Nigeria and China have deepened cultural diplomacy and cooperation in the creative economy with the signing of a landmark content exchange agreement between the China Movie Channel (CMC) and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
The agreement, signed on Friday at the China-Nigeria Film and Literature Symposium at the China Cultural Centre in Abuja, is expected to promote film co-production, content exchange, professional training, technology transfer and international distribution of creative works from both countries.
The pact comes as Nigeria and China commemorate 55 years of diplomatic relations, with both countries seeking to strengthen people-to-people ties through film, literature, arts and entertainment.
Stakeholders at the symposium described the agreement as a strategic opportunity to connect Nollywood, one of the world’s largest film industries, with China’s advanced film and broadcasting ecosystem.
Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, said literature and cinema remained powerful instruments for preserving civilisation, shaping national identity and fostering friendship among nations.
He noted that the growing popularity of Nigerian and Chinese creative works in both countries demonstrated the capacity of culture to overcome differences and deepen mutual understanding.
According to Yu, Nigerian literary icons including Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie enjoy significant readership in China, while Chinese literary works continue to attract Nigerian audiences.
He also highlighted the scale of the two countries’ film industries, saying China produces more than 700 films annually and has over 93,000 cinema screens, while Nigeria’s Nollywood produces more than 2,000 films each year.
The ambassador said the CMC-NTA agreement would provide a platform for filmmakers, writers and television professionals from both countries to tell their stories, exchange ideas and promote greater understanding between their peoples. “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,” Yu said.
Representing the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Permanent Secretary Dr Mukhtar Yawale Muhammad described the agreement as a reflection of the enduring relationship between Nigeria and China.
Muhammad said the partnership aligned with the Federal Government’s efforts to position the creative economy as a major driver of economic growth, employment and national development.
He commended China’s contributions to Nigeria in areas including education, infrastructure, technology and cultural exchange, noting that Nigerians had benefited from Chinese-supported scholarships, training and other programmes. “Partnerships such as this are both timely and invaluable as Nigeria continues to unlock the immense potential of the creative and cultural industries,” he said.
The permanent secretary expressed confidence that the agreement would strengthen skills development, knowledge exchange and the international visibility of Nigerian creative professionals.
NTA Director-General, Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos, described the pact as the beginning of a new phase in Nigeria-China relations driven by creativity, innovation and shared cultural values.
He said the agreement would establish a framework for programme exchanges, joint productions, professional development, technology transfer and wider access to Nigerian and Chinese content.
Dembos added that the partnership would create opportunities for filmmakers, writers, broadcasters and young creative talents to acquire new skills, collaborate across borders and reach wider audiences.
He said the initiative also supported NTA’s transformation into a digitally driven public broadcaster capable of competing in the rapidly evolving global media environment.
Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Abuja Chapter, Arc. Chukwudi Eze, said cultural diplomacy was an important complement to political and economic relations.
He noted that books, films, poetry, theatre and other creative forms enabled countries to understand each other beyond official engagements and economic statistics.
Eze also acknowledged China’s support for literary exchanges, including the sponsorship of ANA members, Professors Razinat Mohammed and Emeka Aniagolu, for a cultural and literary visit to China.
The symposium attracted diplomats, government officials, broadcasters, filmmakers, writers and other cultural stakeholders from Nigeria and China to deliberate on the future of storytelling, film production and literary cooperation.
Participants also watched the Chinese action film Blades of the Guardians as part of the cultural exchange programme.
The CMC-NTA agreement is expected to broaden Nigeria-China relations beyond traditional diplomatic and economic engagements, while creating new avenues for creative-sector investment, skills development, cultural influence and the global projection of Nigerian and Chinese stories.
