Work on the Anambra-China Airport is
set to resume after the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria promised to get
his government intervene in projects being handled by Chinese companies
in the state.
This development follows an appeal by Governor
Willie Obiano to China to assist in facilitating the prompt completion
of some projects being handled by Chinese companies in Anambra State,
especially the International Airport at Umueri.
The governor
made the request when the Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, Zou Pingjian,
paid him a courtesy call at Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia on Thursday.
He
stressed that due to delays in the project execution at the airport
site, Anambra government offered to undertake the construction of a
section of the runway while hoping that full work would soon resume
there.
The governor said by the time the airport would be
completed, Anambra hoped to have more Chinese presence in the state as
some tertiary institutions now offer Chinese language in their course
curriculum.
He urged them to use the opportunity provided by
the visit to see some tourist sites, cultural artefacts and centres, to
explore for improvements.
“This will go a long way in helping to cement our ties,’’ he explained.
Pingjian
explained that the aim of his visit was to explore cooperation
opportunities at the state level, and noted that the relationship
between China and Anambra had been cordial and productive and as such,
should be across board at all levels.
He commended the
governor for his vision, saying that China was working in the same
direction, in line with the vision of the Anambra government.
“In
China, the Congress last Friday, passed a law on foreign investment
which is in line with the vision of Anambra State. China is creating
more enabling environment for foreign investors to support growth of the
state,” he said.
He re-assured of Chinese government’s readiness
to assist to speed up all projects being handled by Chinese companies
in the state.
Top government functionaries present at the
event included Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Solo
Chukwulobelu, and Primus Odili, the Chief of Staff.
Meanwhile,
following the meeting, the Anambra government has continued to
strengthen efforts at diversifying partnership with China to boost
cultural relationship, according to Obiano.
The essence of the
visit was to promote cultural exchange through establishment of
Anambra-Chinese Cultural Centre and to finalise plans to train youths in
China.
The proposed cultural centre would have a theatre and
other facilities that would facilitate a cultural exchange between
Anambra and China.
Obiano, while receiving the ambassador and his
team, called on Chinese government to establish a consular office in
the state as a vast number of Anambra people travel to China for
business purposes.
“Right now Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu
University is offering Mandarin language. We are doing all these to
consolidate our relationship with China,” the governor said.
The
governor stressed that the state government earmarked land for the
construction of Anambra State China Cultural Centre and Theatre Art.
He said the state has rich cultural heritage and potential that has yet to be harnessed.
Pingjian
commended Obiano for creating investment opportunities in the state,
and noted that China’s main reason in seeking partnership with Anambra
State was to harness the state’s rich cultural values and promote
commercial activities.
He stressed that they would collaborate with the state to create enabling environment for more business opportunities.
Sally
Mbanefo, commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Culture and Tourism,
explained that the partnership was as a result of the relationship the
state had built with China through cultural exchanges.
She noted
that Anambra in the past one year enjoyed cultural exchange programmes
with the Chinese, which led to high interest being developed between the
two countries.
Mbanefo said Anambra cultural troupe was the
only team invited by China to Abuja during celebration of the Chinese
New Year 2019, saying some youths from the state would be trained in
China at the invitation of the Chinese government.
