Comrade Grace Ike and Mr Yang Jianxing


...As  China Cultural Centre Host 7th Table Tennis Tournament


The Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ FCT Council,  Comrade Grace Ike has expressed the Council's appreciation for the longstanding partnership between it and the China Cultural Centre. She emphasised the importance of further cultural exchanges and sought for more opportunities for Nigeria and China to explore bilateral relations in the interest of national development. 


“We’re here to show appreciation for your continued support to the NUJ FCT Council and to further strengthen our collaboration. Over the years, we’ve shared so much in terms of cultural exchange programmes, training opportunities, and the annual table tennis tournament”, Comrade Ike said while being received by Mr Yang Jianxing, Director of the Centre and Cultural Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy, alongside other senior staff when she led the Council's Executive on a courtesy visit.


Ike during the visit formally invited Mr Jianxing and his team to the upcoming NUJ FCT Press Week, scheduled to take place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. “We’d be honoured to have you there as one of our key partners,” she said.


In his response, Mr  Jianxing welcomed the NUJ FCT Council's delegation and thanked them for the visit. He gave a brief overview of the China Cultural Centre, which was established in 2013 and hosts  facilities such as a multipurpose hall, library, and Mandarin language classes.


 He equally revealed that the Centre hosts various China–Nigeria cultural events annually including the Spring Festival;  International Women’s Day;  China Tea Day, and the upcoming China–Nigeria Cultural Festival, which will be held in collaboration with Nigeria’s Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy. He also spoke about upcoming performances later this year, featuring Chinese traditional music, dance, Kung Fu, and magic shows


 Mr  Jianxing also confirmed that the 7th Nigeria–China Friendship Table Tennis Tournament, organised by the NUJ FCT Council in partnership with the China Cultural Centre  will take place on  November 15,  2025 and expressed hope for strong NUJ FCT participation and support, as seen in previous years


On the request for training opportunities in China, Mr Jianxing assured the Council that efforts would be made to secure at least one or two spots for their members. “I will do my best to speak with the Embassy and see what can be arranged,” he said, and  described Nigeria and China as “brothers and family,” highlighting the strong and mutually beneficial ties between the two nations.


 Mr Jianxing also lauded the role of the media in promoting understanding between the two countries. “Through your work, people in China learn more about Nigeria, and vice versa,” he said.