Nigeria, China to strengthen media partnership
China says it is ready to expand media ties with Nigeria to strengthen the strategic relations between both countries. Chinese Vice Minister of Information, Guo Weimin, who stated this in Abuja at a media dialogue, said the partnership was to objectively report both countries to the entire world.
He recalled that media relations was one of the agreements reached at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in Dec. 2015.
According to him, China’s relationship with Africa formed the “cornerstone of the foreign policy” of the Chinese government.
“The purpose of my visit to Nigeria is to implement important agreements that were reached between the Chinese and Nigeria presidents on developing the strategic partnership of China-Nigeria relations.
“Mass media serves the most special and important part in introducing the ChinaNigeria cooperation, recording the ChinaNigeria exchanges and spreading friendship,” he added.
He noted that the media of both countries had a significant role to play in promoting people-to-people relations between both countries and being a positive voice for developing nations globally.
“We will continue to tap into the rich content of China-Nigeria friendship cooperation to broadcast and spread the most touching stories to the world, to broadcast and report the lively cooperative results between our two countries.
“We will promote innovative and pragmatic cooperation and carry forward common development of ChinaNigeria From Hassan Ibrahim, Lafia
Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has charged pilgrims from the state to always use security wrist bands during the holy pilgrimage to avoid arrest and deportation.
Al-Makura gave the charge yesterday in Lafia, during a farewell ceremony for the 1,120 pilgrims who are taking part in the exercise this year. He said the security wrist bands are necessary for the protection of pilgrims.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Silas Agara, Al-Makura said, “I call on you to always wear the wrist band. It is fitted with security features”.
Earlier in his remarks, the state Amirul Hajj, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, appealed to the pilgrims to pray for the quick recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari, sustenance of peace in the state and country, the resuscitation of the economy and political stability.
Abdullahi, who is the Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly, thanked the governor for his support. media industry; under these new circumstances, it is meaningful for ChinaNigeria media industries to launch exchanges and cooperation,” the minister said.
The Chinese Deputy Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Lin Jing recalled that China at the FOCAC summit agreed to train 1,000 media professionals from Africa annually and that Nigeria had benefited from that agreement.
Also speaking, Mrs Funke Egbemode, President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, said it was pertinent for the media to work together to enhance national and regional development.