The Anambra State government has continued to strengthen efforts at diversifying partnership with China to boost cultural relationship.
The state governor, Willie Obiano, made this known on Thursday when he received the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria at Governor’s lodge, Amawbia, Anambra State.
The essence of the visit was to promote cultural exchange through establishment of Anambra-Chinese Cultural Centre and to finalise plans to train youths in China.
The proposed cultural centre would have a theatre and other facilities that would facilitate a cultural exchange between Anambra and China.
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Obiano, while receiving the ambassador and his team, called on Chinese government to establish a consular office in the state as a vast number of Anambra people travel to China for business purposes.
“Right now Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University is offering Mandarin language. We are doing all these to consolidate our relationship with China,” Obiano said.
The governor stressed that the state government earmarked land for the construction of Anambra State China Cultural Centre and Theatre Art.
He said the state has rich cultural heritage and potential that has yet to be harnessed.
The Ambassador, Zou Pingjian, commended Obiano for creating investment opportunities in the state.
Pingjian noted that China’s main reason in seeking partnership with Anambra State was to harness the state’s rich cultural values and promote commercial activities.
He stressed that they would collaborate with the state to create enabling environment for more business opportunities.
Sally Mbanefo, Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Culture and Tourism, explained that the partnership was as a result of the relationship the state had built with China through cultural exchanges.
She noted that Anambra in the past one year enjoyed cultural exchange programmes with the Chinese, which led to high interest being developed between the two countries.
Mbanefo said Anambra cultural troupe was the only team invited by China to Abuja during celebration of the Chinese New Year 2019.
She announced that some youths from the state would be trained in China at the invitation of the Chinese government.
