The Lagos session of the global dialogue on “Innovation, Openness, and Shared Development” was recently held, jointly organized by China Media Group (CMG) and the Chinese Consulate General in Lagos.
Keynote video addresses were delivered by Shen Haixiong, Vice Minister of the Propaganda Department of the Communist Party of China and Director-General of CMG, and Nigeria’s Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olauwand. In Lagos, the Chinese Consul General Yan Yucheng, Senior Advisor to the President of Nigeria on Media and Special Duties Thunde Rahman, President of the Editors’ Association of Nigeria A.J. Anaba, and Director-General of the Nigerian Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mining, and Agriculture Sola Obadiem attended and spoke. Nearly 300 participants from the political, business, education, and media sectors of China and Nigeria were present.
In his address, Shen Haixiong emphasized that the recently concluded Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC reaffirmed China’s commitment to high-quality opening-up, creating a new scenario for win-win cooperation. China’s approach to openness is expected to generate greater global opportunities. As the world’s largest, most diverse, and far-reaching international media organization, CMG aims to establish a global platform for knowledge-sharing and consultation, promoting China’s solutions for global governance, the broad prospects of modernization with Chinese characteristics, and China’s new innovative capacities to the world.
Nigeria’s Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olauwand, noted that the China-Nigeria partnership is one of the most vibrant collaborations in the Global South. Built on mutual trust, shared aspirations, respect, and people-to-people connections, this partnership demonstrates how China’s development experience empowers youth to shape the future. Over the past five years, thousands of Nigerian youths have benefited from Chinese scholarships, technical training, and exchange programs. The Nigerian Ministry of Youth Development seeks to further expand and deepen youth exchanges and collaboration with relevant Chinese departments, advancing China-Nigeria relations to new heights.
During the dialogue and exchange, participants agreed on the theme of “Building a Sustainable and Prosperous Future Together.” They underscored that China and Africa should jointly create a new scenario of mutually beneficial cooperation, leveraging the Belt and Road Initiative as a high-quality engine of development to pursue sustainable prosperity together.
Source: Tuhina-Hashim-Swarna, China Media Group.