By Omonu YG Nelson
Zhang Yi, Chargé D’affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, delivered a welcome speech at the Seminar on Promoting Harmony Through Mutual Learning. The seminar aimed to promote cultural exchange and understanding between China and Nigeria.
“The concept of harmony is most emphasized by Chinese in its culture,” Zhang said. “We advocate harmony in coexistence, integration, diversity, and development.”
Zhang highlighted the importance of friendship and cultural exchange in building strong relations between states. He proposed the initiative “Sharing Chinese Harmony, Performing Nigeria-China Symphony” to promote cultural understanding between the two countries.
In his keynote speech, Professor Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim of the University of Abuja highlighted the importance of promoting harmony and mutual learning between China and Nigeria, rooted in their shared history. He outlined key aspects of China’s development model that could be emulated to foster harmony and progress in Nigeria and Africa. These include the Communist Party of China’s harmonious leadership, a people-centred development approach, independence and self-reliance, reform and opening up, and the modernization of the large population.
“The concept of ‘common prosperity for all’ is emphasized as crucial in achieving not just modernization, but also harmony in diversity and coexistence,” Professor Ibrahim said.
Also speaking, Muhammad Sulaiman, President of the China Alumni Association, emphasized the need to look beyond the economic aspects and focus on the cultural dimensions of the China-Nigeria relationship. He noted that the Chinese are known for their punctuality, work ethic, and commitment to continuous improvement, which are valuable lessons for Nigerians.
“For Nigeria to truly harmonize with China, the country must adopt a similar mindset of independence, self-reliance, and a relentless pursuit of progress,” Mr. Sulaiman argued.
He called for a more deliberate approach to education, citizen enlightenment, and the development of key sectors like healthcare, software engineering, and content creation to revive Nigeria’s economy and foster true harmony with China.
Other speakers at the event stressed the need to deepen mutual learning and understanding for the betterment of both countries and peoples.
The seminar is a collaborative effort between the Chinese Embassy, the China Alumni of Nigeria, and the University of Abuja. It is part of a series of events that have been held in recent years to promote cultural exchange between China and Nigeria.