Nigeria and China have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cultural relations and people-to-people exchanges through culture, tourism and the creative industries at the “Share the Moon, Share the Moment, Meet in Africa: Hunan Culture and Tourism in Nigeria” event held in Abuja.
The event, organised ahead of China’s Mid-Autumn Festival, brought together government officials, diplomats, artists and cultural stakeholders from both countries to celebrate their growing friendship and cultural cooperation.
Speaking at the event, Director of the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria, Yang Jianxing, said the visit of the Hunan culture and arts delegation was aimed not only at showcasing Chinese culture and art but also at building greater understanding and friendship between the Chinese and Nigerian peoples.
He noted that the Mid-Autumn Festival symbolises family reunion, harmony, peace and the pursuit of a better life, values he said resonate strongly with Nigeria’s cultural traditions.
Yang emphasised that cultural exchanges remained important for deepening mutual understanding between nations, adding that culture and art have the power to transcend borders and connect people across continents.
He also highlighted Hunan Province’s rich cultural heritage, tourism potential and longstanding engagement with Africa, particularly through the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo hosted in Changsha, the provincial capital.
According to him, this year marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China and has also been designated as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, making cultural cooperation even more significant.
Representing the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Abdulkarim Ozi, a Special Assistant Musa Alhamdu said cultural diplomacy remains a vital tool for strengthening international relations, promoting tourism and creating opportunities for creative practitioners.
He noted that Nigeria and China have expanded cooperation across several sectors, including culture, agriculture, education, infrastructure and trade, while stressing that cultural exchanges provide platforms for artists and audiences to engage, collaborate and learn from one another.
Alhamdu said Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage, reflected in its music, dance, festivals, visual arts, literature, film and creative industries, provides a strong foundation for sustainable cultural cooperation with China.
He added that such partnerships could create new opportunities in tourism, skills development, creative collaboration and investment.
“The moon that shines over China is the same moon that shines over Nigeria. It reminds us that although our history and culture may be different, we share a common humanity and a common world,” he said.
Also speaking, Olubunmi Olowookere, Permanent Secretary, Social Development Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), described culture as one of the most powerful bridges between people and nations.
She said cultural engagement enables people to understand each other through music, dance, food, fashion, storytelling and tourism long before they interact through policies or trade agreements.
Olowookere noted that Abuja, as Nigeria’s capital city, serves as a meeting point for diverse cultures and presents significant opportunities for collaboration with Hunan Province in areas such as cultural exchange, heritage preservation, tourism development, destination branding, creative industries and skills acquisition.
She called for long-term institutional partnerships between artists, museums, cultural centres, tourism professionals and creative entrepreneurs from both countries, stressing that cultural exchanges should evolve beyond one-off events into sustainable cooperation.
President of the Society of Nigerian Artists, Muhammad Suleiman, underscored the importance of cultural diplomacy in strengthening relations between Nigeria and China.
He described culture as the soul of international partnerships, noting that while both countries have collaborated in trade, infrastructure, education and other sectors for decades, cultural exchange remains essential for fostering deeper people-to-people connections.
Suleiman advocated the establishment of recurring Nigeria-China cultural festivals, artistic collaborations, youth exchange programmes and joint creative projects.
He noted that Nigeria’s over 250 ethnic nationalities and China’s 56 ethnic groups share an understanding that culture is a source of identity and mutual respect.
He said the presence of the Hunan delegation in Abuja would further strengthen cultural understanding and friendship between the two nations.
The event featured performances by members of the Hunan cultural delegation alongside Nigerian cultural presentations, including music, dance and acrobatic displays aimed at promoting mutual appreciation of the rich cultural heritage of both countries.
