By Busayo Onijala
Ms Yan Yuqing, the Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos, on Thursday, expressed optimism that China-Nigeria relations would overcome challenges and develop with unstoppable momentum in 2026.
This is contained in a statement by Yan, who added that the new year would usher in a fresh chapter in bilateral relations as 2026 marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
She said the Chinese Consulate-General would continue to carry out a wide range of cultural exchanges and charitable donations to promote mutual understanding and learning between the two civilisations.
According to her, these efforts will further consolidate the foundation of the China-Nigeria community with a shared future.
Earlier, Yuqing said about 20 countries, including the United Nations, had designated the Spring Festival as a statutory public holiday.
She described the Spring Festival as the most solemn and grand traditional festival of the Chinese people, noting that it represents a crystallisation of Chinese culture and serves as an important window for understanding China.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that with a history of over 4,000 years, the Spring Festival marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year.
Yuqing said the festival is a time of reunion and a vivid embodiment of the Chinese culture of harmony, adding that it symbolises good fortune.
She noted that in 2024, the festival was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
“It now belongs not only to China, but also to the whole world,” she said.
The envoy added that 2026 is the Year of the Horse according to Chinese tradition, noting that the horse symbolises strength, courage, and success. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
(Edited by Esenvosa Izah/Emmanuel Yashim)
