China Cultural Exchange highlights tourism, cultural preservation, and modern values, emphasizing technology and sustainable investment for growth

Nigeria-China Cultural Exchange took center stage at the China-Nigeria Culture and Tourism Festival in Abuja, emphasizing the promotion of tourism, cultural preservation, and modern values.

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Speaking on Saturday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar, represented by Bolaji Akinremi, urged the elimination of harmful practices that undermine human dignity while promoting positive traditions that reflect contemporary values.

“As we celebrate, it is also important to recognise the need to remove harmful practices that do not align with modern values of human dignity, while promoting and preserving the positive aspects of our traditions,” Tuggar stated.

He highlighted the role of technology in enhancing Nigeria’s cultural and tourism sectors, through digital promotion, cultural documentation, and innovative tourism experiences.

Tuggar also stressed the importance of sustainable investment to ensure that tourism sites become sources of pride, jobs, and national wealth.

He noted that cultural festivals, such as the Egungun Festival, Durbar Festival, Argungu International Fishing Festival, Ofala Festival, and Calabar Carnival, showcase Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and provide opportunities for exchange and appreciation between nations.

Deputy Ambassador of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Zhou Hongyou, praised Nigeria’s cultural performances and highlighted China’s 5,000-year heritage and 56 ethnic groups, noting the significance of cultural exchanges in fostering mutual respect and collaboration.

Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Mukhtar Yawale Muhammad, commended the organisers for their vision and stressed the economic potential of the sectors.

He emphasized that festivals are platforms for cultural diplomacy, creative exchange, and sustainable development.

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Muhammad further outlined plans for future Nigeria-China collaboration in cultural heritage preservation, creative industry development, and tourism promotion, reaffirming the government’s commitment to leveraging culture and tourism as drivers of economic growth and social cohesion.