China Cultural Exhibition Highlights Shared Values As Nigeria-China Ties Deepen
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
Cultural exchange is increasingly becoming a powerful bridge between Nigeria and China, with shared values around family, community, nature and harmony providing fresh opportunities to deepen people-to-people relations between the two countries.
This was on display in Abuja on Saturday as the China Cultural Centre hosted the 2026 “Seasonal Life & Harmonious China” Cultural Exhibition, showcasing traditional Chinese culture through performances, heritage displays, crafts, cuisine and interactive activities.
The exhibition comes as Nigeria and China mark 55 years of diplomatic relations, with 2026 also designated as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.
Speaking at the event, Cultural Counsellor and Director of the China Cultural Centre in Abuja, Yang Jianxing, said cultural exchange remained essential to building mutual understanding, friendship and dialogue between the peoples of both countries.
He said cultural, educational, tourism and youth exchanges between Nigeria and China had expanded significantly in recent years, helping to strengthen mutual understanding and consolidate the China-Nigeria Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
According to Yang, the exhibition was built around the traditional Chinese concept of “seasonal life”, with particular emphasis on the Twenty-Four Solar Terms, traditional delicacies, intangible cultural heritage, crafts and other aspects of everyday Chinese life.
He explained that the Twenty-Four Solar Terms reflected the wisdom of ancient Chinese communities in observing changes in nature and adapting their lifestyles accordingly.
Beyond its cultural significance, Yang said the concept promoted values including respect for nature, conservation of resources and harmonious living, principles he noted also resonate with aspects of Nigerian traditions.
He expressed hope that the exhibition would encourage more Nigerians to experience Chinese culture while creating greater opportunities for cultural cooperation between the two nations.
Also speaking, Deputy General Manager of China Intercontinental Press and Media Limited, Guan Hong, said cultural exchanges and mutual learning had played an important role in enriching civilisations and strengthening bonds between peoples.
Guan described the 55-year Nigeria-China relationship as a resilient and longstanding friendship that had endured changes in the international environment.
She said this year’s exhibition drew inspiration from Liqiu, or the beginning of autumn, one of the 24 solar terms traditionally associated with the ripening of crops and the approaching harvest.
The exhibition featured five interactive zones exploring different dimensions of traditional Chinese culture and lifestyle, including culture, traditional attire, nature-aligned cuisine, mortise-and-tenon architecture and wellness practices.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Mukhtar Yawale Muhammed, said the exhibition also reflected the broader scope of Nigeria-China relations, which increasingly extends beyond culture into agriculture, science, technology and innovation.
Muhammed said the principle of harmony showcased at the event offered an appropriate reflection of the growing strategic relationship between the two countries, noting that expanding cooperation was creating significant opportunities for both Nigeria and China.
The exhibition therefore served not only as a window into China’s cultural heritage but also as a platform for strengthening the human connections underpinning the wider Nigeria-China partnership.
With both countries seeking to expand cooperation across strategic sectors, cultural and people-to-people exchanges are emerging as an important foundation for sustaining mutual understanding and friendship.
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