Your Excellency, Chief Mrs. Bola Alice Obasanjo, Wife of former President Olusegun Obasanjo,
Your Honourable, Mr. Jaafaru Yakubu, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Nigeria-China Relations,
Baar. Mrs. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, Secretary to the State Government of Lagos,
Hon. Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, Honourable Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade & Investment (MCCTI), Lagos State,
Hon. Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe, Commissioner for Education, Edo State,
Mr. Ari Mohammed Ali, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2 Command,
Mr. Sadiq Kehinde Adebowale, Assistant Comptroller-General, NIS Zone A, represented by Mr. Yo Momodu,
Representatives from diplomatic missions of different countries in Lagos,
Mr. Zhao Hongling, Chinese Director of Confucius Institute of UNILAG,
Mr. Sun Gouping, Head of Chinese Overseas Service Center in Nigeria,
Dr Eric Ni, Chairman of Huaxing Arts Troupe Nigeria and Head of China Industrial and Commercial Enterprises Association in Nigeria
Heads of Chinese enterprises in Nigeria, represented by CCECC and others,
All the distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen, friends!
Good evening!
The Rabbit celebrates the passing of the last year, and the Dragon welcomes the coming of the new one.
On the occasion of the upcoming Chinese New Year of the Dragon, I am delighted to gather with everyone in the beautiful city of Lagos to celebrate the arrival of the Spring Festival! On behalf of the Chinese
Consulate General in Lagos, I extend my heartfelt gratitude and sincere festive greetings to friends from all walks of life, who care about and support the development of China, Nigeria, and China-Nigerian relations!
The past year of 2023 was filled with challenges and hopes, and both China and China-Nigeria relations have made significant strides despite numerous difficulties.
During this year, the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic has dissipated, and the Chinese economy has continued to rebound and improve. The GDP grows by 5.2% year-on-year, contributing one-third to global economic growth. The modernized industrial system has been further upgraded, and notable achievements in coordinated regional development have been reached. We have secured a bumper harvest for the 20th year in a row. New advances have been made in pursuing rural revitalization. China’s innovation-driven development is full of energy. The C919 large passenger airliner entered commercial service. The Chinese-built large cruise ship completed its trial voyage. The Shenzhou spaceships are continuing their missions in space. The deep-sea manned submersible Fendouzhe reached the deepest ocean trench. New energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products are a new testimony to China's manufacturing prowess. People’s sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security is increasing.
During this year, China and Nigeria work together for a closer and stronger community with a shared future for mankind. In October, 2023, President Xi Jinping met with Vice President of Nigeria Kashim Shettima who was in China to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF), reached a series of important results and consensus on building China-Nigeria relations in the new era and jointly promoting high-quality “the Belt and Road” cooperation. The Lekki Deep-sea Port, the largest one in West Africa, constructed by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), opens up new prospects for Nigeria's economic development. The Blue and Red Lines of Lagos Rail Mass Transit, constructed by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC, Nigeria), further improves the urban functionality of Metropolitan Lagos. A number of Chinese high-tech enterprises have boosted Nigeria’s New Infrastructures and promoted the high-quality development of financial technology and mobile payment. Various trade fairs organized by China and Nigeria have provided platforms for enterprises from both sides to invest and start businesses. The Lekki Free Trade Zone, Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone, and various industrial parks in Edo, Ondo and so on, have gathered hundreds of Chinese enterprises, which have greatly enriched and satisfied the Nigerian market.
During this year, with the care and support of all friends, the China-Nigeria friendship and cooperation in various fields in the Consular District of our Consulate General has achieved fruitful results. We successfully held the first Lagos Chinese Film Festival, enabling more Nigerians to get to know the real China through the large screen. Chinese warships paid a friendly visit to Nigeria, and many people boarded the warships to enjoy the grace of China’s “Ship for Peace”. I visited the States of Ogun, Edo, Enugu, Anambra and Cross River, and promoted the signing of a Memorandum of Friendship and Cooperation between Edo State and Fuzhou City of China, thus making new progress in local contacts between China and Nigeria. We joined hands with Chinese community, enterprises and scholars in the Consular District to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, National Day and other festivals with local people, and to experience the magnificence and depth of Chinese culture. We have jointly initiated a number of charity activities, including the “Renewed Hope, Rebirth from the Light” program, which has enabled more than ten cataract patients to regain their sight, some of whom also came here today, and who are witnesses to the friendship between China and Nigeria.
Since assuming office as the Chinese Consul General in Lagos eight months ago, I have increasingly felt that Nigeria is a country full of charm and development potential. Lagos, as the economic and financial center of Nigeria, with dynamic city and passionate people, has left a profound impression on me. Jollof Rice、Fufu、Moi-moi have made me fall in love with Nigerian cuisine, while the National Museums in Lagos and Benin City have allowed me to appreciate Nigeria’s long history and vibrant culture. The prowess of “Super Eagles,” Nigeria’s national football team, has turned me into a firm fan of them. “Nothing, not even mountains and oceans, can separate people with shared goals and vision.” Despite the distance between China and Nigeria, our two peoples can learn from each other, becoming like a loving family through mutual understanding and exchange.
As the Spring Festival approaches, I want to give special commendation to the overseas Chinese community in our consular district. Over the past year, you have stood together, building a harmonious community; you have shown love for your hometown, contributing to home country’s development; you have been actively involved in charity activities, giving back to the local community; and you have remained united in supporting the reunification of our motherland. You truly deserve to be praised as outstanding inheritors of Chinese virtues, the finest envoys to introduce China’s real and good image, and proactive promoters of building a community with a shared future for mankind. The Consulate General will continue take “diplomacy for the people” as our guiding principle, always being the strongest support and warmest harbor, and continue to provide better, more convenient, and warmer services for overseas Chinese citizens.
As we all know, the Spring Festival is the most important traditional festival of the Chinese people, a festival of family reunion, happiness and joy. What is even more gratifying is that on 22 December last year, Spring Festival has been officially listed as a UN Floating Holiday in the UN Calendar of Conferences and Meetings starting in 2024, making it a joyous celebration shared by people all over the world. I have a dream that one day, Chinese New Year will also become a festival shared by Nigerian people.
The Chinese Dragon is a symbol of Chinese nation, representing honor, strength and good fortune. I would like to use the three “U”s to express my expectations for China-Nigeria relations in the Year of the Dragon:
The first U is Understanding. China and Nigeria have many similarities as well as unique characteristics, and enhancing mutual understanding is a prerequisite for deepening friendship and cooperation. I hope that through culture, language and people-to-people exchanges, people in both countries will have a better understanding of each other’s history, culture and values. I hope to deepen the transmission of information between the two countries through the lenses and words of the press, remove misunderstandings and bridge the gap, so as to create a favorable public opinion environment for the deepening of friendship.
The second U is Unity. China and Nigeria are both large developing countries with great dreams of achieving national prosperity and national rejuvenation. We should draw strength from the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation and get united, upholding morality and moving forward firmly in the face of international changes, jointly promoting high-quality “the Belt and Road” cooperation, and pushing China-Africa and China-Nigeria relations to constantly move towards depth and pragmatism.
The third U is Upgrade. We are willing to continue to deepen and expand cooperation, promote the implementation of the three major initiatives advocated by President Xi Jinping in supporting Africa’s industrialization, supporting Africa’s agricultural modernization, and China-Africa cooperation on talent development, and push forward the upgrading of the China-Nigeria strategic partnership, so as to build a closer China-Nigeria community with a shared future for mankind.
Ladies and gentlemen, friends!
Once again, I take the chance express my best wishes:
I wish the good health of all our distinguished guests.
I wish long-lasting friendship between China and Nigeria!
Thank you all!