Trending 
In a diplomatic move to strengthen bilateral ties in the sports sector, officials from the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria paid a courtesy visit to the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC), pledging to establish a dedicated China-Nigeria sports communication channel.
The visit comes after a recent visa issue forced Team Nigeria to withdraw from the World Relays in Guangzhou, China—a development both sides have described as an unfortunate incident and a catalyst for deeper cooperation.
During the visit, Culture Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy, Mr. Yang Jian Xing, expressed his government’s sincere regrets over the incident and reaffirmed China’s commitment to Nigeria’s vision for sports development.
“I want to describe what has happened as an accident, and we are sorry and we regret it in its entirety. We are here to let the Sports Commission know that the Chinese Government holds Nigeria in high esteem,” Yang stated.
He further emphasised China’s readiness to work closely with the NSC to enhance diplomatic relations through expanded sports training initiatives and exchange programs.
“We are open to better collaboration with the National Sports Commission to boost diplomatic ties between China and Nigeria in terms of sports training and exchange programmes,” he added.
Most notably, Yang proposed the establishment of a special China-Nigeria Sports Communication Channel to improve coordination and prevent future administrative oversights.
In his response, Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the NSC, welcomed the Chinese delegation’s conciliatory visit and expressed optimism about future collaborations.
“We are very happy to receive officials from the Chinese Embassy in our office today. It shows the Chinese Government’s genuine disappointment for what happened — which for us is a huge sign of better things to come between both countries, especially in sports,” Dikko remarked.
Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, also commended the embassy’s diplomatic approach and expressed eagerness to build a stronger partnership.
Olopade further noted the significance of China’s proposed exchange programs and training opportunities for Nigerian athletes, sports administrators, and media professionals. “We are looking forward to a bigger and better relationship between Nigeria and China,” he affirmed.
The meeting concluded on a hopeful note, with both parties agreeing to turn the incident into a stepping stone for more robust cooperation in the global sports arena.
