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Nigeria, China Sign Culture and Tourism Statute

Published

3 years ago

January 12, 2022

News Net Global

Nigeria, China Sign Culture and Tourism Statute

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China have signed a joint Culture and Tourism Statute and inaugurated a sub-committee that would further strengthen bilateral cooperation between both countries.

Representatives of both countries signed the act and inaugurated the committee during a virtual event hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Abuja on Wednesday.

During the event, China’s Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr Zhang Xu, while recalling that Nigeria and China “have enjoyed good bilateral relations in the past 50 years,” noted that culture and tourism have played critical roles in strengthening the ties.

He revealed that the aim of adopting the act and establishing the sub-committee was to promote inter-cultural collaboration and connectivity between the Chinese and Nigerian people in furtherance of China-Africa relations.

He said the establishment of an inter-governmental committee with Nigeria is the first-ever between China and Africa, noting that this action testify to how important and strategic China considered Nigeria.

He said: “As important contributors to the strategic partnership between our two countries, culture and tourism should play greater roles in increasing the people-to-people connectivity for the benefit of the two countries.

“That is the mission of the culture and tourism sub-committee that we are establishing today.

“Therefore, members of our ministries and sub-committees must make good use of the platform in alignment with the objectives of FOCAC, its eight ministerial meetings, Belt and Road Initiative, and FOCAC Action Plan 2022-2024.”

He added that: “We must work together to offset the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact and the planned programmes that the sub-committee covers such as culture, tourism, publishing heritage, library, and museum.

“Our goal must always be to promote our interculturality, and cultural collaboration, full relationship and connectivity between China and Nigeria people in the new areas of China-Africa relations.”

Zhang advised the sub-committee to ensure the promotion of activities and events that would further boost cultural ties between both countries.

He said: “I would like to propose the following; keep working on events like Happy Chinese New Year, Chinese and African culture in focus, and resume mutual visits of artists as soon as the pandemic situation allows.

“Also, we should continue to carry out capacity building programmes in culture and tourism and support cooperation between Chinese and Nigerian cultural businesses.”

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On his part, the Ambassador of China to Nigeria, Cui Jianchun said that the establishment of the Act and sub-committee on Culture and tourism is a good start to a greater future with new dynamics.

The Ambassador said that in a generation where the youth are taking the lead with great innovations, reinvigorating the culture and tourism sector will help boost both economies with mutual benefits.

According to him: “The establishment of the sub-committee on Culture and tourism is really a milestone.

“I do believe we are doing good things now because culture and tourism mean a lot to young people. We have already embarked on a new journey of mutually beneficial cooperation and we all believe that a thousand miles begin with a single step.

“The potentials of our cooperation in the fields of culture and tourism will surely be further released and a better tomorrow must belong to us.”

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Culture, Dr Ifeoma Anyawutaku, who led Nigerian team to the signing, said the potentialities in the creative sector in Nigeria were untapped and that the new cooperation would help facilitate that.

She said Nigeria will also leverage this to diversify its economy by adequately harnessing the potentials in the culture and tourism sector.

Anyawutaku said: “While taking a cursory look at the Statutes of the sub-committee on Culture and Tourism, Nigeria, as well as China have reviewed our achievements and experiences in the cultural and tourism exchanges and cooperation.

“Under the framework of the Forum on China and Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). This evaluation and experiences will help reposition the culture and tourism sector. For the development of both countries and the reinforcement of our bilateral cooperation.”

The establishment of the sub-committee and drafting of the act was an outcome of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the foreign ministers of both countries with the aim of boosting bilateral ties.

Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi had signed the MoU on behalf of his country during his visit to Nigeria while his Nigerian counterpart, Geoffrey Onyeama signed on behalf of the Federal Government.

Nigeria, China Sign Culture and Tourism Statute

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FG Declares Holidays for Christmas, New Year Celebrations

Published

2 hours ago

December 23, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

FG Declares Holidays for Christmas, New Year Celebrations

By: Michael Mike

The Federal Government has declared Wednesday 25th, Thursday 26th December 2024, and Wednesday 1st January, 2025 as Public Holidays to celebrate Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year respectively.

The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government extended warm greetings to all Nigerians, urging them to use the festive period to reflect on the values of love, peace, and unity that the season signifies.

Tunji-Ojo emphasised the importance of the season as a time to foster harmony and strengthen bonds across families and communities.

The Minister also called on Nigerians to remain committed to the peace, unity and progress of the nation for national development.

The Minister, in a press release on Monday signed by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, said: “The Christmas season is a good moment for both spiritual reflection and national renewal. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, let us demonstrate kindness and extend goodwill to one another, irrespective of our differences.”

He assured citizens of the Federal Government’s continued commitment to ensuring peace, security, and prosperity across the nation.

The Minister while wishing Nigerians a merry Christmas and a prosperous 2025, expressed his confidence in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu’s Administration ushering in the new year, a better and prosperous economy that will be the envy of the world.

FG Declares Holidays for Christmas, New Year Celebrations

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FG Condoles with Families of Stampede Victims, Issues Advisory on Public Events During the Yuletide

Published

8 hours ago

December 23, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

FG Condoles with Families of Stampede Victims, Issues Advisory on Public Events During the Yuletide

By: Rabiu Ibrahim

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, deeply sympathizes with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in the tragic stampedes that occurred during food distribution exercises in Ibadan, Abuja, and Okija.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and all those affected by these unfortunate incidents,” he said.

The Minister said the tragedies are deeply saddening and underscore the importance of ensuring proper crowd management during such charitable activities, especially during the festive season.

While acknowledging the noble intentions of organizers seeking to bring relief to vulnerable members of society, the Minister strongly admonishes all individuals and organizations planning similar events to comply with the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun on liaising with the police formations for effective crowd control and security measures.

He emphasized that collaboration with the police and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), is crucial to safeguarding lives and ensuring that such efforts to assist those in need do not inadvertently lead to further distress.

Furthermore, the Minister appealed to politicians and other stakeholders to refrain from politicizing the unfortunate incidents, stressing that those tragic events are in no way connected to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s economic reforms.

“It is worth noting that similar unfortunate occurrences have been recorded in the past, before the current administration, as such, making any attempt to link these tragedies to the President’s reforms is unfounded and disingenuous,” he said.

Idris said the reforms, while repositioning the Nigerian economy for sustainable growth, are designed to uplift the lives of all Nigerians, particularly the vulnerable without causing distress.

The Minister called for a collective sense of responsibility and urged citizens to unite and ensure that the Yuletide season is marked by peace, goodwill, and joy.

FG Condoles with Families of Stampede Victims, Issues Advisory on Public Events During the Yuletide

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CUBA: MARCH OF THE COMBATING PEOPLE CONFIRMS THE UNITY OF THE CUBAN PEOPLE AGAINST THE BLOCKADE AND THE REMOVAL FROM THE LIST OF COUNTRIES THAT ALLEGEDLY SPONSOR TERRORISM.

Published

8 hours ago

December 23, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

CUBA: MARCH OF THE COMBATING PEOPLE CONFIRMS THE UNITY OF THE CUBAN PEOPLE AGAINST THE BLOCKADE AND THE REMOVAL FROM THE LIST OF COUNTRIES THAT ALLEGEDLY SPONSOR TERRORISM.

By: Michael Mike

On December 20, at the end of the plenary session of the National Assembly of People’s Power of the Republic of Cuba (ANPP), a popular march took place in front of the United States Embassy in Havana, with the aim of firmly and forcefully denouncing the atrocities caused within the country by the unjust and criminal blockade of the United States of America and the permanence of Cuba on the illegitimate list of countries that supposedly sponsor terrorism.

The Havana seafront, faithful scene of Cuban struggles and just causes, was, once again, witness to the humane and revolutionary claim of a resilient and combative people.

The March of the Combatant People, the name given by Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz to the many popular complaints made by the Cuban people against the unjust measures adopted by the United States government against the Island for more than 62 years, was led by the President of the Republic Miguel Díaz Canel Bermúdez and the Army General and leader of the Cuban Revolution Raúl Castro Ruz.

On October 31, the United Nations General Assembly adopted for the 32nd time, with an overwhelming majority, the resolution in which it calls on the United States to end the prolonged economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba. The resolution, supported by 187 States, including Nigeria, reaffirmed once again the total support of the international community for the just struggle of the Cuban people and government.

During the march, the Cuban president said: “We do not profess the slightest feeling of hatred against the American people. To the noble citizens of that country, we offer our full respect, and our hand is always extended to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood between the two peoples. That is the same hand that we have extended to all US governments since the triumph of the revolution until today, always in terms of a serious, respectful relationship and on equal terms, but if the US persists in its efforts to undermine our sovereignty, our independence, our socialism, they will only find rebellion and intransigence.”

He also reiterated: “This will be a march, yes, very anti-imperialist. Against American imperialism and its attempt to impose itself in Cuba by force or seduction, we will march now and always.”

CUBA: MARCH OF THE COMBATING PEOPLE CONFIRMS THE UNITY OF THE CUBAN PEOPLE AGAINST THE BLOCKADE AND THE REMOVAL FROM THE LIST OF COUNTRIES THAT ALLEGEDLY SPONSOR TERRORISM.