The Chinese Embassy in Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening diplomatic and sporting relations with Nigeria following the country’s last-minute withdrawal from the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou due to visa issues.
During a diplomatic visit to the National Sports Commission (NSC) in Abuja, Culture Counsellor of the Embassy, Yang Jian Xing, expressed regret over the incident, describing it as an unfortunate accident. He stressed that China values its relationship with Nigeria and aims to prevent such setbacks in the future.
“We deeply regret the visa challenges that led to Nigeria missing the World Relays. The Chinese Government holds Nigeria in high esteem,” Jian Xing said. “We hope to enhance collaboration with the Sports Commission through training and exchange programmes. We’re also considering creating a dedicated channel for China-Nigeria sports communication.”
Chairman of the NSC, Shehu Dikko, welcomed the embassy’s apology and emphasized the Commission’s readiness to move forward positively.
“Your visit and expression of regret mean a lot to us. It shows a genuine desire to build stronger ties, especially in sports,” Dikko said. “We believe this incident can serve as a catalyst for better cooperation between both countries.”
Director General of the Commission, Bukola Olopade, echoed similar sentiments, describing the embassy’s approach as “humble and diplomatic.”
“We accept your apology and appreciate the request for sports and media exchange programmes. Let’s use this as a springboard to create a more robust and meaningful partnership,” Olopade said.
The meeting ended on a hopeful note, with both sides agreeing to foster deeper collaboration to promote sports development and diplomacy between Nigeria and China.
