Minister calls China important development partner
(Nigeria) The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji
Lai Mohammed, has described China as one of the most important partners in
Nigeria's quest to develop its infrastructure.
Speaking while receiving the Ambassador of the Peoples
Republic of China to Nigeria, Ambassador Gu Xiaojie, who paid him a courtesy
visit at his office in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister said that was why the
Nigerian government holds its relataionship with China very dear.
''China is a veritabe development partner with Nigeria. The
relationship between the two countries started at the level of cultural
collaboration but has now gone beyond that to the developmental level,'' he
said.
Alhaji Mohammed cited the partnership between the Nigerian
Television Authority, NTA and the Star Times of China; the funds being
provided by China for Nigeria's rail project and the involvement of a Chinese
firm in the Lagos State Government rail project as instances of the strategic
relationship between the two countries.
He also called for more partnership between the two in the
area of tourism, saying China has done well, especially in the area of domestic
tourism.
While accepting the invitation to attend the First World
Conference on Tourism Development in China in May 2016, the Minister said the
trip would give him the opportunity to exchange views with China's Tourism
authorities on how best to help boost tourism in Nigeria.
Earlier, Ambassador Gu described the relationship between
his country and China, which dates back 45 years, as ''excellent and strategic.”
He said both countries attach great importance to the
relationship and would work harder to strengthen it, especially in the areas of
information, tourism and culture.
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