We are Committed to Strengthening Nigeria-China Relations through Sports- Jianxing
By Raymond Enoch
The Director, China Cultural Centre in Nigeria, Yang Jianxing, has said that the China -NUJ FCT Annual Table Tennis Tournament is a testament to the growing friendship and cooperation between Nigeria and China.
Mr. Yang Jianxing states this in an exclusive interview with ZitiSports in Abuja on Saturday
Yang who doubles as a Counselor in the Chinese Embassy said that “Table tennis is a popular sport in Nigeria and China hence the choice of the tournament which will provides a platform for the people to come together, compete, and learn from each other.
He said ” We are committed to strengthening the bonds of friendship between our two countries, and we believe that sports and cultural exchange programs like this tournament are essential to achieving that goal”,
Yang, further commended the Nigerian government and its people for being accommodating and friendly, willing to lend support for bilateral developments.
“We are grateful for the warm welcome and support that we have received from the Nigerian people. We look forward to continuing to work together to promote mutual understanding and cooperation between our two countries,” He added
Earlier in his remarks at the event, the Chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council, Mr. Patrick Osaretin Osadebamwen, said that the Chinese cultural Center has been a valuable partner of the NUJ FCT Council over the years.
In his words, “We appreciate their commitment to our shared goals and look forward to continuing our collaboration”
” Today, we gather to compete in a spirit of friendship and sportsmanship. While language barriers may exist, we have found ways to communicate and connect through our shared passion.
“As we celebrate our differences and commonalities, we are reminded that our diversity is our strength. This event is a testament to the power of cultural exchange and the importance of building bridges between nations”, He added.
The Chairman, FCT Table Tennis Association, Navy Captain Jelani Umar, represented by the Deputy Director, Sports Development, FCT Sports Department, Iyiola Ogundele, noted that beyond engaging in table tennis at a competitive level, it is one of the easiest ways of keeping fit particularly in this time when technological advancement has made Nigerians lazy in the way they spend most of their times with their phones for fun rather than engaging in physical activities which Table tennis provides.
“The association is deeply grateful for the support of the Chinese Embassy in this tournament. China as we all know, is renowned for its prowess in table tennis and we see this tournament as an opportunity to learn from the best. We wish to therefore sincerely appreciate the embassy for their support”, he noted
He assured that the Association’s doors will remain open to journalists to build on a partnership that is beyond Table Tennis to other sports.
“Part of our plans in the Association is to nurture young talent and reviving the sports in primary and secondary schools across the FCT in order to catch them young. We plan to also engage the Area Council Authorities to replace the viewing centers winch have unfortunately become centres for illicit activities with community table tennis centres. Our aim with this is to revive the sports for both leisure and competition which can serve as an avenue for economic empowerment”, he assured
The tournament drew participants from across different media house in Abuja, the FCT and members of the Chinese community in Abuja.
