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From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the One-China Principle.
The Director-General and Global Liaison of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), Joseph Tegbe, gave the reaffirmation during the Chinese New Year Temple Fair in Abuja at the weekend.
The Chinese New Year, the Year of the Horse, also marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China.
Tegbe also said the principle remained the bedrock of the enduring friendship and continues to guide the comprehensive strategic partnership between Nigeria and China.
He said: “As we welcome the Year of the Horse, we are reminded that Nigeria and China share this same spirit of resilience and determination as we gallop forward into a future of deeper cooperation and shared prosperity.
“Nigeria reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the One-China Principle. This principle remains the bedrock of our enduring friendship and continues to guide our comprehensive strategic partnership with China.”
He further said over the past 55 years, the relationship between Nigeria and China has evolved from cordial diplomatic ties into a robust partnership that positively impacts the lives of ordinary Nigerians and Chinese alike.
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“As we celebrate the New Year, we must also look ahead with renewed energy and clarity of purpose. This moment is not only about celebrating past achievements; it is about delivering on projects that will define our shared future, in line with the bold and audacious initiatives of President Bola Tinubu, inspired by his historic visit to President Xi Jinping in Beijing in September 2024,” he said.
Earlier, the Chargé d’Affaires, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Nigeria, Zhou Hongyou, said the Spring Festival is the deepest cultural mark left on the Chinese heart and a warm moment of family reunion for hundreds of millions of households.
“Ten days from now, on February 17, Chinese communities around the world will celebrate the Lunar New Year of 2026. At the end of 2024, the Spring Festival was successfully inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and it has now become a global celebration that conveys the values of peace and harmony,” Zhou said.
He also said not long ago, the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was convened and adopted the recommendations for the 15th five-year plan (2026–2030), which has drawn a grand blueprint for China’s development over the next five years and injected more positive energy and stability into today’s turbulent world.
“The Happy Chinese New Year Temple Fair we are holding today is a vivid practice of global civilisation Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, and an active effort to promote in-depth dialogue and mutual learning between Chinese civilization and Nigerian civilization. It will play an important role in consolidating public support for mutually beneficial cooperation between our two countries.
“On February 10, 1971, China and Nigeria formally established diplomatic relations, opening a chapter of friendship across mountains and seas. Over the past 55 years, regardless of changes in the international landscape, both sides have always upheld mutual respect, equality and win-win cooperation. From political mutual trust and economic cooperation to people-to-people exchanges, China–Nigeria relations have grown ever stronger and more fruitful and witnessed historic progress in recent years. During the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2024, the two heads of state jointly announced the elevation of China–Nigeria relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. At the beginning of 2025, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, paid a successful visit to Nigeria, implementing the important consensus reached by the two presidents and promoting the upgrading and coordinated advancement of bilateral cooperation.
“After 55 years of working hand in hand, China–Nigeria cooperation has gone beyond the scope of bilateral economic relations and has become a model of South–South cooperation. Bilateral trade continues to expand, infrastructure cooperation is progressing steadily and the two sides are actively consulting on the implementation of zero-tariff measures, which provide strong support for Nigeria’s modernisation efforts. The Chinese-language radio programme “Ni Hao! China” has been successfully launched on the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, opening a window for communication between our two peoples. Through the sub-committee on culture and tourism under the intergovernmental committee, the two sides have agreed to deepen cooperation in the fields of cultural heritage protection and cultural and creative industries. We have exchanged students, engaged in joint scientific research and set up more “China Corners” programmes in schools. Exchanges in knowledge and technology have further strengthened the foundations of our cooperation. These achievements are vivid reflections of the strategic mutual trust and profound friendship between our two countries and have injected strong momentum into the sustained and steady development of mutually beneficial cooperation,” Zhou also said.
