Chibuzo Ihegboro
Ms Yan Yuqing, the new Consul General of the Chinese Consulate in Nigeria, has urged Nigerians, particularly youths, to be open-minded in assimilating information concerning China and to dismiss the many misleading reports continuously projected by some Western media.
She made this call on Saturday in her office during her first media interaction, and to formally unveil the recreation facility built and donated by Chinese businessmen at Lagos’ Adeola Odeku axis.
The Chinese envoy stated that China and Nigeria have a long history of friendship and strategic partnership, but that the erroneous impression created by Western media against Chinese people is a challenge to the bilateral relationship between China and Nigeria.
She said, “The challenge we’ve had is that many Nigerian people, especially young people, don’t have a clear and true understanding of China. This happens because some Western media have fabricated rumours to distort the image of China.
“For example, there are rumours that China is threatening the security of the world and that the Chinese people are exploiting the sources of the African continent. These are not true, and the facts prove that in everything China has done, the main purpose of all our efforts is to bring development and a better life to local people.
“The most fundamental thing that we need to do is to increase the people-to-people exchanges, especially among Nigerian youths, to build mutual trust and help them better understand the real China. So I think understanding each other is the key to bolstering the existing cordial friendship.”
She further urged Nigerian youths to visit China and to communicate with the Chinese people so they can understand the values and principles of China people.
“The Chinese government has offered Fellowship programmes to Nigerians that could take them to China for further study. And through this overseas study, Nigeria young people would be more skilled and empowered to help us build bilateral relations”, she added.
Consul Yan, whose appointment has become the first woman Consul-General expressed excitement about her new role and vowed to explore ways to sustain and improve on the existing goodwill between China and Nigeria. “China and Nigeria share a lot of business and economic bonds. And we will continue to explore ways to deepen our bilateral relationship, she said.
“During the pandemic, the two countries held on well. China and the Chinese governments donated health products like masks and vaccines to Nigeria to help them get through the pandemic. The future is bright, as we also look for opportunities in public health. You may have heard of traditional Chinese medicine, which is getting more and more popular nowadays all over the world. So I hope the traditional Chinese medicine could help Nigerian people to get rid of some difficult diseases,” the envoy added.
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Speaking on the recreation park built and donated by three Chinese contractors to the residents of Victoria Island, Consul Yan described the project as a vivid example, that Chinese companies are not only about making profits but also focused on how to improve the living environments of the local people.
The V.I project donated by three Chinese companies – BGP/CNPC International Nigeria Ltd, XCMG Automotive Nigeria Ltd, and Anhui Construction Engineering Group, is the rebuilding of a dirty, filthy and smelly spot just opposite the Chinese Consulate on Idejo Street by Adeola Odeku, into a clean and beautiful recreation park, that oozes the class and finesse befitting a highbrow neighbourhood.
“I also encourage more Chinese companies, to always give back to improve the local’s social and economic development. this project truly reflects China’s diplomatic philosophy and our desire to build a stronger relationship between our two countries”, she said.
Responding, Afoladi Taofeek, an official from the Iru-Victoria Island Local Council Development Area, in Eti-Osa Local Government, thanked the Chinese donors for their generosity in building the recreational centre, thus giving a facelift to a location feared for its muck and being a hideout for miscreants.
