Nigeria and China have strengthened 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 held 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 significant milestone in advancing bilateral relations through arts, literature and film.
Speaking at the event, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, said literature and cinema remain enduring expressions of human civilisation that preserve history, shape national identity and foster mutual understanding among nations.
He noted that China and Nigeria, both endowed with rich literary and cinematic traditions, have increasingly embraced each other’s creative works. According to him, Nigerian literary icons such as Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie enjoy wide readership in China, while Chinese literary works continue to attract growing audiences in Nigeria.
Highlighting the strength of both countries’ film industries, Yu said China produces more than 700 films annually and operates over 93,000 cinema screens, while Nigeria’s Nollywood remains the world’s second-largest film industry, producing more than 2,000 films 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,” the ambassador said.
He added that writers, filmmakers and television professionals from both countries would jointly explore how literature, film and television could better serve contemporary development and effectively tell their national stories.
Yu further explained that the symposium, held as Nigeria and China commemorate 55 years of diplomatic relations, reflects both countries’ commitment to implementing the outcomes of the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit and expanding 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 noted that the CMC-NTA partnership would create new opportunities for co-productions, skills development, knowledge sharing and increased 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 founded on friendship, mutual respect and shared aspirations.
According to him, the strategic partnership 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 ongoing 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 commended 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 the two countries.
The symposium featured discussions on storytelling, film production and literary collaboration. Participants also watched the Chinese action film Blades of the Guardians as part of the cultural exchange programme.
