ABUJA — China has called on Nigerian and African youths to play a leading role in strengthening ties between Africa and China, describing young people as key drivers of future cooperation and development.
Speaking at the China-Nigeria Youth Exchange Seminar in Abuja, Minister Zhou Hongyou of the Chinese Embassy said youth engagement remains vital to sustaining the growing relationship between China, Nigeria and the African continent.
He urged young people from both countries to build stronger friendships, embrace dialogue and contribute actively to a shared future based on cooperation and mutual development.
According to him, global challenges and uncertainties make international collaboration more important than ever, stressing that China remains committed to deepening its partnership with Africa.
“The more turbulent the world gets, the more China stays committed to Africa. We are ready to walk side by side with Nigeria and other African countries toward modernisation and a shared future,” he said.
Hongyou also encouraged Nigerian youths to become ambassadors of China-Africa cooperation by promoting positive stories of collaboration and shared progress.
He noted that relations between Nigeria and China continue to expand in critical sectors such as trade, technology, education, culture and sports, describing the partnership as a model of win-win cooperation among developing nations.
Also speaking, Director of Education and Youth Development at the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Despan Kwardem, said Nigeria stands to benefit from stronger cooperation with China, particularly in technology, innovation, skills development and employment opportunities.
He added that growing partnerships with Chinese companies could open more internship and job opportunities for Nigerian youths.
The seminar, organised by the Chinese Embassy in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, focused on expanding youth exchanges and strengthening people-to-people relations between both countries.
