China urges Nigerian students to embrace language learning

China has urged Nigerian students to embrace language learning and cultural exchange, describing it as a key to civilisation and a means of strengthening ties between both countries. The Counsellor of the Chinese Cultural Centre, Yang Jianxing, stated this on Friday in Abuja at the 19th Nigeria Division of the Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for School Students, where he described the event as a significant platform for promoting mutual understanding through language and culture. Yang said the competition represented a major milestone in educational and cultural cooperation between China and Nigeria, while commending teachers and students of the Confucius Institute at Nnamdi Azikiwe University and the Confucius Institute at the University of Lagos for their dedication to Chinese language education. He noted that having an open mind to learning new languages could open up opportunities for young people through language learning and cultural engagement. According to him, the Chinese language serves as a gateway to understanding Chinese civilisation, carrying “the poetic beauty of classical literature, the wisdom embedded in idioms and historical allusions, and the profound heritage of thousands of years of history.” Encouraging participants to remain committed to their studies, Yang said, “You are all in the prime of your youth, and your choice to learn Chinese and step onto the ‘Chinese Bridge’ stage is itself an act of courage and commitment.” He urged the students to use the competition as an opportunity to deepen their knowledge of the language and pursue greater academic and cultural achievements in the future. He also noted that China-Nigeria relations offer valuable opportunities to expand cooperation in education, culture, the arts and sports. Yang said the Chinese Embassy and the China Cultural Centre would continue to support Confucius Institutes and Chinese language classrooms across Nigeria, improve access to Chinese language education, and create more opportunities for youth exchanges. “The Embassy and the Cultural Center will seize this opportunity to further support Confucius Institutes and Chinese language classrooms in improving the quality of their programs and expanding access to Chinese language learning; to actively build platforms for youth exchanges between the two countries; and to continue holding diverse cultural events so that more Nigerian young people can experience the charm of Chinese culture and carry the torch of China-Nigeria friendship into the next generation,” he said. Related News Appeal Court nullifies