The Chinese government has announced plans to establish a Chinese Centre at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) in Rivers to foster cultural exchange and cooperation between China and Nigeria.

Yan Yuqing, China’s consul-general in Lagos, disclosed this while leading a delegation from the consulate on a visit to UNIPORT.

This is contained in a statement by UNIPORT’s public relations officer, Sammy Kpenu, on Friday.

Ms Yuqing, represented by Liu Hongwu, director of the Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University, China, expressed confidence that the centre would deepen China-Nigeria relations.

“The centre will further strengthen educational and cultural exchanges between China and Nigeria, providing UNIPORT students with greater access to Chinese resources, training, and opportunities,” she said.

She also announced plans to inaugurate the “China Window” platform to give Nigerians broader access to the Chinese language, culture, and academic opportunities.

“This is part of our ongoing commitment to strengthening educational and cultural ties with Africa, particularly with institutions such as UNIPORT,” she added.

Ms Yuqing expressed optimism that the partnership would yield long-term benefits for both countries.

In response, Owunari Georgewill, vice-chancellor of UNIPORT, commended the Chinese government for its sustained interest in Africa, particularly in education, culture, and infrastructure development.

He thanked the Chinese Consulate for selecting UNIPORT from among other universities in the Niger Delta, pledging the university’s full commitment to ensuring the success of the Chinese Centre.

Mr Georgewill noted that with the establishment of the centre in UNIPORT, a Chinese language programme had formally commenced.

“This is part of our broader initiative to expand our academic offerings to students and to bridge the skills gap in Nigeria’s evolving labour market,” he said.

He added that language exchange initiatives would enhance students’ employment prospects, particularly in Chinese-owned companies operating nationwide.

“The growing presence of Chinese companies in Nigeria makes it essential for our people to acquire language and cultural skills to enhance their employability and competitiveness.

“This collaboration is timely, and we must fully leverage the opportunities it presents,” he said.

The UNIPORT vice-chancellor described the centre’s establishment as a significant milestone in the university’s efforts to promote cultural exchange and cooperation with China.

(NAN)