China and Nigeria have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations through youth engagement, cultural exchange, technology transfer, and people-to-people cooperation at a China-Nigeria Youth Exchange Seminar held in Abuja.
Speaking at the seminar, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Hongyou, urged young people from both countries to play a leading role in advancing the vision of a China-Africa community with a shared future.
The event, organized in collaboration with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Youth Development, brought together young representatives from both countries to discuss avenues for deepening cooperation and fostering mutual understanding.
Addressing participants, Ambassador Zhou described the gathering as a significant opportunity for Chinese and Nigerian youths to contribute to the growing partnership between the two nations.
“This year marks the 70th anniversary of China-Africa diplomatic relations and the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges,” he said. “It also marks 55 years of diplomatic relations between China and Nigeria. Our friendship has weathered many storms and grown stronger over the decades.”
The envoy emphasized China’s commitment to Africa, noting that the continent remains a priority in Beijing’s foreign engagement strategy. He highlighted recent measures aimed at boosting economic cooperation, including China’s decision to introduce zero tariffs on imports from 53 African countries with diplomatic relations with China.
According to him, the initiative is intended to expand market access for African products and create new opportunities for economic growth across the continent.
Drawing from remarks by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Ambassador Zhou stressed the importance of youth participation in shaping international cooperation and building a better future.
He encouraged participants to remain open-minded, embrace intercultural dialogue, and foster lasting friendships through educational and cultural exchanges.
The ambassador outlined three key expectations for young people from both countries.
First, he urged them to promote dialogue and inclusiveness in order to strengthen support for the China-Africa community with a shared future.
“In today’s interconnected world, no country can tackle global challenges alone,” Zhou said, noting that cooperation and mutual understanding remain essential in addressing emerging global uncertainties.
Second, he called on the youths to become advocates and storytellers of China-Nigeria and China-Africa cooperation by sharing objective narratives about the partnership and promoting the benefits of win-win collaboration.
“The more turbulent the world becomes, the more China remains committed to Africa,” he stated.
Third, Zhou encouraged young people to transform discussions into practical outcomes by actively participating in collaborative initiatives across education, technology, culture, sports, and innovation.
He assured participants that the Chinese Embassy would continue working closely with Nigeria’s Ministry of Youth Development to create more platforms for engagement and cooperation.
Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the event, the Director of Education and Youth Development at the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Despan Kwardem, described the seminar as an important step toward strengthening ties between young people in both countries.
According to Kwardem, the programme was organized to commemorate 55 years of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China while exploring ways to deepen youth-focused cooperation.
“The seminar is about celebrating 55 years of Nigeria-China relationship with a special focus on how we can amplify youth development and exchange between young people of Nigeria and China,” he said.
He noted that both countries possess large youth populations that are energetic, technologically inclined, and increasingly connected through digital platforms.
“From the ministry’s point of view, it is a very welcome development because it gives us the opportunity to begin to see how we can have structured relationships connecting our young people with Chinese young people,” he added.
Kwardem said Nigeria stands to gain significantly from enhanced cooperation, particularly in the area of technology and innovation.
He explained that beyond serving as consumers of Chinese technology, Nigerian youths could benefit from direct knowledge transfer through exchange programmes, training opportunities, and innovation partnerships.
“Most of what we use here are technologies from China. With a deepened relationship, the exchange should not only make us end-users of Chinese technology but also provide opportunities for our young people to acquire the knowledge behind those technologies,” he said.
He cited possibilities such as innovation exchanges and technical training that could enable Nigerian youths to learn advanced technological skills and return home with expertise capable of driving local development.
While acknowledging growing interest in expanding cooperation into education, science and technology, culture, and health, Kwardem noted that discussions remain at an exploratory stage.
He explained that the seminar serves primarily as a platform for gathering ideas and recommendations from participants, which could later inform concrete programmes and policy initiatives.
“We harvest the inputs from the young people, go back to the ministry, and the Chinese side will also review the discussions. From there, proposals for action may emerge that will guide future cooperation,” he said.
He added that while several possibilities are being considered, no definitive framework or timeline has yet been established.
The seminar underscored the growing emphasis both countries are placing on youth engagement as a pillar of bilateral relations. With Nigeria and China seeking to expand cooperation in trade, technology, education, culture, and innovation, participants expressed optimism that stronger youth-to-youth connections would help sustain and deepen the relationship for future generations.
Ambassador Zhou said the future of China-Nigeria relations rests significantly in the hands of young people.
“Young people are the future of our nations and of China-Nigeria relations. Our friendship will grow stronger because you respect each other, work together, and learn from one another,” he said.
