China and Nigeria have restated their commitment to strengthening cultural collaboration between both countries, promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment.
This was disclosed at the celebration of the China Women’s Film Festival held in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
The event is to celebrate the power of women in film and reinforce a shared commitment to gender equality, cultural diplomacy, and creative collaboration.
Speaking, the Minister of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Zhou Hongyou, underscored women as key drivers of sustainable progress and development of human society.
“Women are not only the foundation of families and societies but also a vital force driving social development and progress. Chinese women have fully utilised their intelligence, talents and creativity, playing an indispensable role in China’s transformation from a poor and backward country to a world economic powerhouse in just the past 50 years,” he said.
Hongyou, further reaffirming China’s dedication to advancing women’s welfare, women’s advancement in education, employment, social status and leadership both domestically and globally. Noting that China also incorporates women’s development indicators into its national planning system, making gender equality a key measure of broader economic and social progress.
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“The Chinese government has always attached great importance to improving women’s social status and creating equal opportunities in education and employment. China has integrated women’s development goals and tasks into its five-year plan for national economic and social development, using the status of women’s development as a key metric for assessing broader economic and social progress. Today, 690 million women in China have achieved moderate prosperity. Women now account for 43 per cent of the total employed population, and more than half of university students are female, with an average life expectancy of 80.9 years”, he noted.
Hongyou further stressed China’s global outlook, particularly its cooperation with Nigeria and other countries, to promote women’s empowerment and sustainable progress worldwide.
“China is working with the Nigerian side and other countries around the world to accelerate the comprehensive development of women and open a new chapter in the advancement of the women’s cause globally,” he said.
On his part, the Chairman of, House Committee on Culture and Creative Economy, Gabriel Saleh Zock, commended China’s ongoing partnership with Nigeria in promoting cultural diplomacy through initiatives such as the China Women’s Film Festival.
“I commend the Embassy of China and the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria for their consistent commitment to building cultural diplomacy and fostering creative exchange between our two nations, Nigeria and China. This festival is another bridge linking our creative communities, inspiring new possibilities for cooperation, artistic collaboration, and knowledge exchange,” he stated.
Mr Zock also reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to gender inclusion and empowerment, revealing that the National Assembly is actively working to ensure greater female representation in governance, aligning with broader global goals for gender equality.
He added that through the unifying power of art and culture, the collaboration between Nigeria and China can lead to a future where creativity, peace, and prosperity thrive.
“At the National Assembly now, we are trying to amend the Constitution and make a reserve seat for 30% women’s inclusion in governance. By God’s grace, in the coming years, more women will take their rightful place in leadership and decision-making across our nation.
“Together, Nigeria and China can champion a creative future where talent knows no bounds and where art continues to unite humanity. When women tell their stories, society evolves; and when nations exchange their art, peace and prosperity follow. Let us reaffirm our shared responsibility to make cultural diplomacy a cornerstone of development and mutual understanding,” he added.
Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Iman Suleman-Ibrahim, represented by her Special Assistant on Creative Economy, Rukkayah Mohammed, described the China Women’s Film Festival as an avenue to celebrate creativity, resilience, and the power of storytelling to connect nations and inspire change.
“This year’s China Women’s Film Festival celebrates creativity, resilience, and the power of storytelling to connect nations and inspire change. Through the art of film, we are reminded that stories have the power to bridge cultures, ignite compassion, and build mutual understanding across borders. This festival holds a special significance as it coincides with the renewed global reflection on the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a landmark framework that has guided three decades of advocacy for women’s rights, gender equality, and empowerment. As the world revisits the spirit of Beijing, we reaffirm our shared duty to ensure that every woman and girl, everywhere, lives freely, fulfilled, and empowered to reach her full potential,” she said.
The Film Festival, jointly organised by the Chinese Embassy and the China Cultural Centre, featured four acclaimed women-themed Chinese films: “The Dumpling Queen, The Beautiful Life, Song of Spring, and Her Story — celebrating the strength, resilience, and creativity of women in society.”