The Chinese Embassy in Nigeria on Saturday hosted the 2025 Spring Festival Temple Fair showcasing a vibrant display of Chinese culture in anticipation of the upcoming Spring Festival, which marks the first day of the Chinese Lunar Calendar.
Held at the China Cultural Centre in Abuja, the event was organized in collaboration with the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism and Nigeria’s Ministry of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy, and drew a diverse crowd, including Chinese nationals, local residents, officials from both the Chinese embassy and the Nigerian government, as well as representatives from various Chinese enterprises operating in Nigeria.
The celebration featured an array of traditional Chinese and Nigerian cultural performances, including captivating renditions from a Chinese troupe from Beijing. Attendees also enjoyed a variety of Chinese cuisine and had the opportunity to win fantastic prizes. The event also included a seminar on the tourism potential of Beijing.
This year, the Spring Festival falls on January 29, ushering in the Year of the Snake. In December 2024, UNESCO recognized the Spring Festival as part of the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, underscoring its significance.
During the ceremony, Yu Dunhai, the Chinese ambassador to Nigeria said the Year of the Snake holds special significance in Chinese culture, symbolizing happiness and prosperity. He expressed hope that the year would foster peace and prosperity for both the Chinese and Nigerian peoples.
The Chinese envoy stated that China looks forward to strengthening bilateral ties with Nigeria in 2025 following the elevation of relations into a comprehensive strategic partnership.
He noted that the trade volume between Nigeria and China exceeded $20 billion last year, with Nigeria being China’s largest engineering contract partner, second-largest exporting market, and third-largest trade partner in Africa.
“We aim to work with Nigeria to further increase our trade volume, as we see significant potential. Nigeria is a major African country with global influence and is now a partner country of BRICS,” Yu said.
He expressed optimism about future collaborations, particularly in implementing the 10 Action Partnerships established during the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation.
In his remarks, Oraeluno Obi Raphael, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy reaffirmed the Nigerian government’s commitment to promoting and strengthening the bilateral cultural ties between Nigeria and China.
While congratulating China on the occasion of the 2025 Lunar New Year, he stressed that the ministry is dedicated to implementing policies and programmes that foster cultural exchange, support artistic collaborations and enhance Tourism opportunities between both countries.
