Zhou, who made the disclosure at a reception for the celebration of
the Chinese New Year on Sunday in Lagos, said that the partnership between both
countries would be enhanced to a mutually beneficial level.
According to him, China and Nigeria’s partnership would thus receive a
boost this year as Nigeria is prepared to join the Chinese Belt and
Road Initiative (BRI).
“In 2019, China will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of
the People’s Republic of China.
“And China stands to work with Nigeria to elevate our strategic
partnership to a new level that would bring greater benefits to our
two countries.
“2019 will be the year that Nigeria would formally join the Chinese
Belt and Road Initiative. The Belt and Road is China’s initiative, but
it will be of benefit to the world,” he said.
According to him, China and Nigeria have signed a governmental Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) on the initiative year, which will be Feb. 4 to Feb. 10, 2019.
Zhou said that cooperation between both countries in 2018 had resulted
in the inauguration of the Abuja Light Railway and the new airport
terminal in Port Harcourt.
The Chinese ambassador also added that the cooperation had led to the
commencement of work on the Abuja-Keffi-Lafia-Makurdi road, as well
as the Lagos-Ibadan Railway.
The Chairman of Overseas Chinese Association in Nigeria, Mr. Lewis
Tung, said that the Chinese New Year was the most important holiday for
the Chinese people, which is celebrated by the gathering of every
Chinese families with their friends.
“Although we may be 10,000 kilometres away from our home country, we
are most thankful to be united with our Nigerian friends, the international
community and Chinese families in Nigeria.
“Having been in Nigeria since the 1950s, we firmly believe that our two
countries and cultures have similarities,’’ he said.
The celebration, which brought together the Chinese community in
Nigeria, their Nigerian and non-Nigerian friends, was spiced with the
eating of Chinese delicacies and dance performances by Chinese and
Nigerian groups.
The Chinese New Year 2019 falls on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, beginning the year of the Pigs.