Nine countries are participating in the 6th Asian Film Festival in the Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja.
The festival is aimed at sharing stories that reflect the unique traditions, values, and creativity of Asia and Nigeria.
Speaking at the opening of the occasion, the Cultural Counsellor, China Embassy who doubled as the Director, China Cultural Centre in Nigeria, Yang Jianxing says the fiesta is a bridge between Asia and Nigeria as well as enable them to understand each other better.
He said the festival reminds the participants of how films can bring people together, no matter where they are from, by showing them how much they have in common.
Speaking, representative of the ministry of arts, culture, tourism and the creative economy, Raphael Oraeluno said, the festival apart from promoting the existing cordial relationship between Nigeria and China will provide an invaluable opportunity to strengthen cultural diplomacy and foster artistic exchange among participating countries.
He said, through active collaboration of multiple Asian countries, the festival emphasised the power of cinema to create connections beyond borders and promote mutual understanding between diverse cultures.
The Permanent Secretary further noted that it was imperative that Nigeria champion more policies that support cultural exchange and encourage partnerships between Nigeria and China.
Some major stakeholders also spoke on the importance of the festival and the transformative power of cinema in facilitating cross-cultural dialogue and enhancing global understanding.
The participants at the four-day festival at the China cultural centre in Abuja include eight Asian countries are China, India, Iran, Korea, Vietnam, Turkey, Japan, Malaysia and the host country Nigeria.
