The 2015 Seminar on Chinese Culture and Economy for Government Officials from Developing Countries has opened in Beijing, the capital city of the Peoples Republic of China, with a commitment from the Chinese Government not to relent in strengthening co-operations between developing countries of the world.

Vice President, Beijing International Chinese College (BIIC), Mr. Yang Wei stated this in his speech at the opening ceremony of the seminar, organized by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, in collaboration with BIIC at the Holliday Inn Express Hotel, Beijing, saying the Chinese Government was using cultural seminars to deepen understanding between China and other countries.

According to him, the seminar which aims at promoting friendship and cooperation in fields like Economy and Trade between China and other developing countries was designed to expose participants to Chinese Culture and language as well as the social and economic development of the country through learning, visits and field trips, which will enable participants to have better understanding of China, enhance friendly ties and contribute to their exchanges and co-operations.

His words: “We will manage to let all students experience Chinese culture and language as well as the social and economic development of China through seminars, visits and field trips within a limited period so that you will have a better understanding of China, enhance friendly ties with the Chinese people and contribute to the exchanges and cooperation between China and your countries.”

He reiterated Chinese President, Xi Jinping’s earlier remark on how developing countries can come together to cooperate in the new era to play bigger roles towards enhancing the balanced development of the world, stressing that China was not only dedicated to promoting its “Belt and Road Initiative,” but will always be a reliable friend and sincere partner to other developing countries.

Already, 37 participants from 15 countries with which China has already established friendly cultural relations through years of exchange and cooperation have started receiving training on Chinese Language and Culture, Society and History, which is expected to last for the next 28 days.

Besides learning the Chinese language, experiencing their culture, and studying their economic and social development, participants will also have the opportunity to visit the World Cultural Heritage and Historical Sites in Beijing, as well as visit Xi’an, a time-honoured city with splendid culture and Shenzhen, a pioneer city in China’s reform and opening-up process to have discussions with people from a wide range of fields.

In all, Nigeria has five (5) participants attending the seminar, which includes the Director, Orientation and Cultural Affairs, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Mr. Alex Omijie; Coordinator, NICO Minna State Office, Mrs. Olufunke Ndukwe; Media Assistant to ES-NICO, Mr. Caleb Nor; as well as Mr. Tiamiyu Morufu Adisa and Mrs. Sani Safiya from the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), respectively.

Caleb Nor

Corporate Affairs Unit

NICO, Abuja

(Reporting from Beijing, China)