BOOSTING NIGERIA-CHINA RELATIONS

Nigeria and the People's Republic of China are to further strengthen the existing relationship between the two countries in the area of tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

Nigeria's Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Mallam Yusuf Abdallah Usman gave this indication in Abuja when he received a five-man Chinese Cultural Delegation to Nigeria, led by the Chinese Vice-Minister and Director-General Staet Administration for Cultural Heritage, Mr. Shan Jixiang recently.

He informed the visiting Chinese delegation that the Commission has put together measures and strategies on how to discourage illegal trafficking of artefacts out of Nigeria by organizing workshops to sensitize security agents and the public.

The Director-General however solicited the support of the Chinese government in the area of preserving and developing heritage sites across Nigeria.

Responding, Mr. Shan Jixiang described Nigeria as a dynamic country with a rich cultural heritage and history greatly admired by the People's Republic of China. He disclosed that their visit to Nigeria was a follow-up to an earlier visit in 2008 by a Nigerian Cultural Delegation from the NCMM led by the Director-General. The visit undoubtedly will improve on the cultural cooperation between our two countries the Vice-Minister expressed.

It is important to mention that Nigeria and China signed a Protocol of a Programme on Implementation of Cultural and Educational Cooperation and Exchanges for the year 2008-2010.

Mr. Jixiang explained that Nigeria has a vast potential of cultural heritage, noting that his country will be willing to work with Nigeria to develop the tourism sector. On arrival at the Museum premises, Mr. Jixiang and his team were conducted round the headquarters gallery, and a power point presentation by the NCMM Director-General summarized the activities and achievements of the Commission.

The Chinese cultural delegation was later received by the Minister of Tourism Culture and National Orientation, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed, who was represented by the Permanent secretary in the Ministry, Alhaji Ibrahim Mahe.

As part of their visit to Nigeria, the Chinese cultural delegation proceeded to Adamawa State, where they were hosted to a dinenr by the State Governor, Alhaji Murtala Nyako at the Government House, Yola. The team was later taken on site visit to Sukur World Heritage Site in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, the first UNESCO World Heritage site in Nigeria.

The Cultural delegation rounded up their visit to Adamawa State, by paying a courtesy call on the Lamido of Adamawa, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Dr. Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Mustafa in his palace.

The delegation concluded their visit in Nigeria, with a visit to the National Museum, Lagos, and has since returned to China..