The Chinese Deputy Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Zhou Hongyou, says President Xi Jinping has announced that China will grant zero-tariff treatment on 100% of tariff lines to 53 African countries including Nigeria with diplomatic ties with China.
Persecondnews reports that President Xi’s announcement starkly contrasts with US President Donald Trump’s trade policy, which imposed new 15% import tariffs on several African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa and Uganda.
Hongyou said this in his welcome address during the 2025 China-Nigeria Culture and Tourism Festival, organised by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, in Abuja on Saturday, August 16, at the Chinese Culture Centre.
Persecondnews recalls that President Bola Tinubu and President Xi elevated Nigeria-China bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during President Tinubu’s official visit to China in 2024.
A Persecondnews correspondent, who covered the event, reported that Hongyou described China and Nigeria as ancient civilizations with deep historical and cultural roots.
He highlighted China’s rich history, spanning over 5,000 years, with 56 ethnic groups and numerous languages and dialects that have shaped its open, inclusive, and harmonious national identity.
“Similarly, Nigeria boasts a rich local culture tracing back 3,000 years, with over 250 ethnic groups and more than 500 languages, showcasing its own unique cultural diversity and heritage”, he said.
According to Hongyou, this shared cultural heritage creates a robust basis for deepening cultural ties and collaboration between the two countries.
He said: “Despite the long distance between us, China and Nigeria grew ever closer through culture and tourism exchanges. In recent years, as high-level interaction and people-to-people exchanges have flourished, culture and tourism cooperation have reached new heights.
“More and more African friends are getting to know China through platforms like the China Culture Center, Confucius Institute, the Chinese Bridge Convention, and the China Congress. At the same time, many young Chinese have fallen in love with their home and dynamic nations through work, study, and travel here.
“Today, we are top travel choices for each other. For Chinese tourists, Nigeria is one of the Africa’s top sports, and for Nigerian tourists, China is one of the go-to destinations in Asia.
“As Chinese President Xi Jinping said, exchange and mutual learning make civilization richer and more colorful. That is exactly what today’s festival is all about.”
In her speech, the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Mrs Hannatu Musa Musawa, said that the festival is not merely a moment of entertainment; rather, it serves as a platform for cultural diplomacy, creative exchange and mutual understanding between nations.
Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, stated that Nigeria and China have shared deep and mutually beneficial relations for over half a century in culture, trade, technology, and education.
She added that the festival deepens this bond, enabling people from both countries to experience each other’s traditions, cuisines, music, fashion, and artistic expressions.
Represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Muktar Yawale Muhammad, Musawa noted that the Ministry recognizes culture and tourism as powerful drivers of economic growth, job creation, and social cohesion, not just as a means to showcase identity and heritage.
This recognition, she said, prompted the Ministry to support the event, which highlights the vast potential of the creative economy—from African fashion designs to traditional Chinese artistry—and opens up new opportunities for investment, tourism, and cross-cultural partnerships.
She said: “We believe that by working together, we can unlock the full potential of our cultural and tourism sectors, creating a brighter future for both Nigeria and China.
“It is our desire that this festival should be a stepping stone towards even greater cooperation and a deeper understanding between our two nations.”
Delivering his goodwill message, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, expressed gratitude to China for being Nigeria’s friend and said that Nigeria would continue to cherish the friendship.
Tuggar said the gathering is not just a celebration of culture, fashion and tourism, but also a testament to the strong and amicable relations between Nigeria and China, two regional giants and influential partners in global development.
The Minister, represented by the Ministry’s Director of Reforms and Innovation, Amb. Bolaji Alade Akinremi, said the event provides a unique opportunity to appreciate each other’s values, traditions and creativity.
He said: “These cultural exchanges foster enduring bridges of understanding, friendship and cooperation. As we celebrate, it is equally crucial to acknowledge the importance of eliminating harmful practices that are inconsistent with modern values of human dignity.
“While promoting and preserving the positive aspects of our traditions, we must also harness the power of technology to develop our cultural, festival and tourism sectors, whether through digital promotion, cultural documentation or innovative tourism experiences.
“In addition, attracting sustainable investment into our tourism sites will ensure that they thrive as sources of pride, job creation and national wealth. The Nigeria-China partnership extends far beyond diplomacy and trade; it is about people-to-people connections.
“Today’s festival embodies that spirit, assuring us that by celebrating each other’s heritage, we strengthen not only our cultural bonds but also our political, social and economic cooperation.
“On behalf of the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I wish to express gratitude to the Embassy of China, the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, the China Cultural Center in Nigeria, the Africa Fashion Festival Vogue and the Chinese Tourism Promoters Initiative for their commendable collaboration.”
Persecondnews reports that the event featured performances, including the Nigeria’s unity dance by Wazobia Art and Culture Group, the Yangko dance by students from Chinese Corner, “The Fall” by EECI Limited, and fashion shows showcasing both Chinese and Nigerian designs by the African Fashion Festival Vogue.
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