Nigeria and China has advanced their cultural diplomacy with the signing of a landmark creative industry cooperation agreement between the China Movie Channel (CMC) and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), a partnership expected to boost film co-productions, content exchange, professional training, technology transfer and broader collaboration across the creative sectors.
The agreement was signed on Friday during the China–Nigeria Film and Literature Symposium at the China Cultural Centre in Abuja, where senior government officials, diplomats, broadcasters, filmmakers and literary figures from both countries described the initiative as a major step towards strengthening bilateral relations through arts, literature and film.
Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, said literature and cinema are enduring expressions of human civilisation that preserve history, shape identity and promote mutual understanding among nations.
According to him, China and Nigeria, both rich in literary and cinematic heritage, have increasingly embraced each other’s creative works, with Nigerian authors such as Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie enjoying wide readership in China, while Chinese literary works continue to attract growing audiences in Nigeria.
Highlighting the strength of both countries’ film industries, Yu noted that China produces over 700 films annually and operates more than 93,000 cinema screens, while Nigeria’s Nollywood remains the world’s second-largest film industry with more than 2,000 films produced each year.
“The content exchange cooperation agreement between China Movie Channel and NTA will build a crucial platform for the people of both nations to enhance mutual understanding and friendship.
“Writers as well as film and television professionals from China and Nigeria will also jointly explore how literature, film and television can better serve the development of our times and tell national stories well,” the ambassador said.
He added that the event, held as both countries mark 55 years of diplomatic relations, reflects their commitment to implementing the outcomes of the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit and strengthening people-to-people exchanges under their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Representing the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mukhtar Yawale Muhammad, described the symposium as another demonstration of the enduring friendship between Nigeria and China and their shared commitment to cultural diplomacy.
He commended China’s achievements in education, infrastructure, technological innovation and poverty reduction, noting that many Nigerian officials and professionals have benefited from Chinese-sponsored scholarships, capacity-building programmes and cultural exchanges.
“We express our sincere appreciation to the Government and people of the People’s Republic of China and to President Xi Jinping for their steadfast commitment to international cooperation and cultural exchanges that continue to strengthen China-Nigeria bilateral relations,” Muhammad said.
He said the CMC-NTA partnership would open new opportunities for co-productions, skills development, knowledge sharing and greater global visibility for creative talents from both countries.
“As Nigeria continues to implement policies aimed at unlocking the immense potential of the creative and cultural industries as drivers of economic growth, job creation and national development, partnerships such as this are both timely and invaluable,” he added.
Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority, Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos, described the agreement as the beginning of a new chapter in Nigeria-China relations built on friendship, mutual respect and shared aspirations.
“The CMC-NTA Strategic Cooperation Agreement will provide a strong platform for content co-production, programme exchange, professional training, technology transfer and the wider distribution of Nigerian and Chinese creative works.
“It will also create opportunities for our filmmakers, writers, broadcasters and young creative talents to learn, collaborate and reach new audiences,” Dembos said.
He stressed that the partnership aligns with NTA’s transformation into a modern, digitally driven public broadcaster and should deliver measurable outcomes through quality joint productions, enhanced professional capacity and technological innovation.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Abuja Chapter, Arc. Chukwudi Eze, said literature and film remain among humanity’s most effective tools for preserving culture, shaping identity and fostering dialogue across nations.
“Cultural diplomacy is just as important as economic and political diplomacy. Through books, films, poetry, theatre and the creative arts, nations come to know one another beyond headlines and statistics, fostering mutual understanding, respect and lasting friendship,” Eze said.
He also appreciated the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria for sponsoring two ANA members, Professors Razinat Mohammed and Emeka Aniagolu, on a literary and cultural exchange visit to China, describing the initiative as another milestone in strengthening literary cooperation between both countries.
The symposium featured discussions on storytelling, film production and literary collaboration, while participants also viewed the Chinese action film Blades of the Guardians as part of the cultural exchange programme.