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 is 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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