Anambra State government has continued to strengthen efforts at diversifying partnership with China to boost cultural relationship.

This was made known when Governor Willie Obiano received the China Ambassador to Nigeria at Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia.

The essence of the visit was to promote cultural exchange through establishment of Anambra-Chinese Cultural Centre and to finalise plans to train youths in China.

The proposed cultural centre will have a theatre and other facilities that would facilitate a cultural exchange between Anambra and China

Governor Obiano while receiving them called on Chinese government to establish Chinese Consular office as vast number of Anambra people travel to China for business purposes.

“Right now Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University is offering Mandarin language. We are doing all these to consolidate our relationship with China,” he added.

The governor stressed that government has earmarked land for the construction of Anambra State China Cultural Centre and Theatre Art.

He said that the state had rich cultural heritage and potential that had yet to be harnessed.

Zou Pingjian, ambassador, commended Governor Obiano for creating windows of investment opportunities in the state.

Pingjian noted that their main reason in seeking partnership was to harness its rich cultural values and promote commercial activities.

He stressed that they would collaborate with the state to create enabling environments for more business opportunities.

Sally Mbanefo, commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Culture and Tourism, explained that the partnership was as a result of the relationship the state had built with China through cultural exchanges.

She noted that Anambra in the past one year enjoyed cultural exchange programmes with the Chinese, which led to high interest being developed between the two countries.

Sally said that Anambra cultural troupe was the only team invited by China to Abuja, during celebration of their New Year in 2019.

She announced that some youths from the state would be trained in China at the invitation of the Chinese Government.