China to help Nigeria reduce poverty

Cui Jianchn, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Nigeria, has said the Chinese government is ready to help Nigeria reduce the level of poverty in the nation.

Jianchn revealed this intention on Tuesday in Abuja during the closing of the Nigeria-China Cultural week and award ceremony, a line-up of activities to commemorate the October 1 National Day of both countries.

On the celebration of China’s 72 anniversary, Jianchn said his country has recorded robust growth and successes in its economy, innovation, poverty eradication, the Belt and Road Initiative, amongst others.

Jianchn said that part of his strategies as an Ambassador is to replicate China’s success in Nigeria by sending young Nigerians to China, understudy the system, get the experience and infuse them into the Nigerian system, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

He said, “This February 25, the Chinese President declared to the International Community that we have accomplished the eradication of extreme poverty. I want to share with you that this is really the biggest achievement of the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese as a nation.

“I will like to share with you that we can do this together because poverty elimination, reduction or eradication really needs the leadership that has been shown by the Chinese President who had the strong will.

The ambassador continued, “How can we achieve this difficult target? We can see that a lot of project policies are in place. The most important aspect is that we mobilize the whole society to work together to eradicate poverty from rural areas.

“I am hoping that next year after COVID-19, I am thinking of a possibility of how we can get young people from Nigeria to go to China and learn from the Chinese side, get experience. I believe that if China can do that, Nigeria can also.

“We can apply Chinese not only model but a way of eradicating poverty. I think there is a need for the two countries to work on this poverty eradication. You know you have your goal. I think this is a very meaningful thing not only for the Nigerian people but also for the international community.”

Jianchn commended the strong bilateral relations between China and Nigeria over the past 50 years and called for a more holistic, comprehensive approach to build “our bilateral relations in another 50 years”.

In his remarks, Otunba Segun Runsewe, Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture, commended Jianchn for his efforts in strengthening the Nigeria-China ties with so many strategies and commitments.

“Since His Excellency came to Nigeria, I have seen a man who is ready to make sure Nigeria catches up with some of the developmental achievements of China. Today, His Excellency mentioned the issue of US$ 10 billion, which made a stretch of 18 years to US$ 16 trillion. I want to assure you that it is a wake-up call,” Runsewe said.

Runsewe said that the NCAC is also ready to strengthen cultural ties with China, adding that Nigeria will build a cultural village during the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, China, to celebrate cultural ties.

According to Nigerian Senator David Mark on a delegation visit to China in May 2014, there are about 10,000 Nigerians living in China. Nigerians are concentrated in Guangzhou, a city in the Guangdong province with a large population of Africans.