By Emmanuel Emeka
Nigeria and China have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cultural exchange and people-to-people relations through the promotion of traditional Chinese martial arts and cultural heritage.
The commitment was highlighted at the Chinese Wushu (Martial Arts) Premium Exhibition held at the China Cultural Centre in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, the Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria and Director of the China Cultural Centre, Yang Jianxing, described martial arts as more than a sport, saying it represents a cultural language that promotes mutual understanding, discipline and friendship among nations.
According to him, Chinese Wushu embodies the values of harmony, moral character and peaceful coexistence, noting that the essence of martial arts is not conflict but self-cultivation and the pursuit of peace.
“The ‘Wu’ aspect of martial arts is not about advocating fighting, but rather about stopping war through martial arts. The way of martial arts lies not only in the fists and feet, but also in self-cultivation and moral character,” he said.
Yang explained that the exhibition was designed to give Nigerians an opportunity to experience Chinese culture through lectures, performances and interactive sessions led by a martial arts team from Beijing Sport University.
He noted that the event forms part of activities marking the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Nigeria as well as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.
According to him, the steady growth of relations between both countries over the years has been driven not only by political and economic cooperation but also by the enduring friendship between their peoples.
“Facts have proven that the sustained development of China-Nigeria relations stems not only from the fruitful results of pragmatic cooperation, but also from the profound and sincere friendship between the two peoples,” he said.
Yang added that the Chinese Embassy and China Cultural Centre would continue to promote exchanges in culture, tourism, sports, youth and women development to further strengthen bilateral relations.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Dr. Mohammed Bulama, Director of Programmes, Abiodun Ogidan, commended the Chinese Embassy for promoting cultural understanding through initiatives such as the exhibition and the Ni Hao China programme on FRCN.
Ogidan said the collaboration between FRCN and the Chinese Embassy has helped bring Mandarin language and Chinese culture closer to Nigerian audiences while fostering greater appreciation of the longstanding friendship between both countries.
He noted that the partnership has enhanced public awareness of Chinese culture, tourism, innovation and development achievements while enriching FRCN’s content offerings and strengthening its role in promoting international understanding.
“As we celebrate this cultural exhibition, we reaffirm our commitment to sustaining and deepening this productive partnership,” he said.
The event featured martial arts demonstrations, cultural performances and interactive sessions showcasing the richness of Chinese heritage and its role in strengthening cultural diplomacy between Nigeria and China.
