Nigeria-China Food Festival features over 20 dishes, cements 55-year diplomatic ties
Fourteen Chinese dishes and 12 Nigerian dishes have showcased the mutual friendship and strengthened cultural ties between the two countries as Nigeria and China celebrate 55 years of diplomatic relations.
The Nigeria-China Food Festival, held at the China Cultural Centre, provided an opportunity to deepen cultural, tourism and economic cooperation between the two populous nations.
In his remarks, China’s Chargé d’Affaires in Nigeria, Mr Zhou Hongyou, said food provided an important platform for people of different cultures to understand one another and build friendship.
He explained that the festival featured 14 dishes from seven geographical regions of China and 12 dishes representing Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, alongside cultural performances and exhibitions.
Mr Zhou said Nigeria-China relations had deepened significantly over the past 55 years, with bilateral trade reaching 18 billion dollars in the first half of 2026, representing a 35 per cent increase compared with the same period last year.
He also said Chinese imports from Nigeria stood at about 2.3 billion dollars during the period, an 80 per cent increase, while urging both countries to conclude arrangements for China’s zero-tariff policy for African countries that have diplomatic relations with Beijing.
On his part, the Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, Aare Fagade, said the festival demonstrated how food could promote cultural exchange, tourism and economic opportunities.
He urged stakeholders to develop Nigeria’s culinary heritage into a globally recognised food-tourism industry.
Also speaking, the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, noted that gastronomy was an important part of Nigeria’s tourism economy and could create jobs, attract investment and strengthen the country’s global cultural identity.
She said the festival provided opportunities for chefs, food entrepreneurs, creatives and hospitality businesses from both countries to exchange knowledge, access new markets and deepen people-to-people relations.
Themed “Bridging Cultures Through Cuisines,” the event also featured music, arts, crafts and hospitality displays, with participants encouraged to use cultural exchange to strengthen the longstanding friendship between Nigeria and China.
I’d slightly prefer “55-year diplomatic ties” over “55 year old diplomatic relationship” in the headline—it’s tighter and sounds more natural for a news report.
