The Chinese Embassy in Nigeria has pledged full support of the country to participate in the 45th anniversary of the Festival for Arts and Culture (FESTAC”77) slated for Dec. 5 to Dec.11 in Abuja.
Mr Li Xuda, Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy and Director of the Chinese Cultural Centre , gave the assurance when delegates of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) paid a courtesy visit to the Chinese Embassy on Thursday in Abuja.
Chief Oluwabunmi Amao, Director-General of CBAAC, organisers of FESTAC”77 at 45, said this in a statement made available to the media on Friday.
Xuda expressed enthusiasm for the event, and assured CBAAC of the support and full participation of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria for the festival.
He harped on the fact that there were numerous similarities in the cultures of Nigeria and China.
He said this could be seen in the areas of cuisine, arts and dance as the country plans to use the platform of FESTAC ’77 at 45 to showcase their cultural endowments to full appreciation by the world.
Earlier, Amao stated her intention to fully intimate the Chinese Ambassador on plans for FESTAC”77 45th anniversary commemoration.
She said the visit was also to seek the full participation of the Chinese Embassy and community in Nigeria for the cultural mundial scheduled to hold at the Eagle Square and the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
She said China had one of the largest community of foreign nationals in Nigeria and FESTAC ’77 at 45 offers a veritable avenue to promote people-to-people cultural exchanges between the two countries.
She hailed the Chinese people and stated that she was highly impressed by their deliberate efforts in promoting their culture even in faraway land like Nigeria.
Other members of the Chinese team present at the meeting included Mr Wang Guiping, First Secretary for Cultural and Education Affairs and Ms Liang Huili, Second Secretary, Information, Public Relations Affairs.
The CBAAC director-general was accompanied by Miss Henrietta Nwoye, Head, Finance & Accounts and Mr Manji Diyal, Coordinator for FESTAC77 at 45. (NAN)