By Favour Ulebor, Abuja

China has restated its commitment to strengthening cultural and film cooperation with Nigeria as the award-winning Chinese documentary Rooting was screened at the Zuma International Film Festival in Abuja.

Yang Jianxing, Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy and Director of the China Cultural Centre, said this during a masterclass and screening led by the director of the film, Ms Chai Hongfang, and its editor, Ms Zhou Hongxia, who are visiting Nigeria for the festival, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Yang said both countries are known globally for their strong film industries. He explained that Nollywood produces about 2,500 movies each year, making it the second largest film industry in the world.

He added that China now has more than 90,000 cinema screens and recorded a box office of 6 billion dollars in 2024.

He described the screening and masterclass as a cultural exchange and a symbol of the friendship between the two nations.

“The Zuma Film Festival is not only a stage for Nigerian filmmakers, but also an important window for exchange and mutual learning between different civilizations.

“With 2026 designated as the China Africa Year of People to People Exchanges, we look forward to deeper cooperation between China and Nigeria in the film industry, enhancing friendship and promoting mutually beneficial development,” he said.

Rooting, which took four years to produce, tells the story of the Nu people in a village in Yunnan Province and how they moved out of poverty through China’s targeted development programmes.

Yang said the film is “a condensed visual chronicle of China’s poverty alleviation efforts,” and noted that it has received several awards at international festivals. He added that its message reflects the desire of many Nigerians for better living conditions and national progress.

Also speaking, Wang Wenfei, Chief Executive Officer of China Harbour Engineering Company (Nigeria), said film has the power to cross borders and connect cultures.

He noted that China Harbour has worked in Nigeria for many years and has contributed to the country’s infrastructure growth through projects like the Lekki Deep Seaport and the Keffi Makurdi Enugu road expansion.

In his remarks, Ali Nuhu, Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), said the partnership between Nigeria and China in the creative sector is already active and growing.

He said the festival gives Nigerian filmmakers the chance to learn new skills and storytelling styles, especially through the masterclass offered by the Chinese delegation.

The 2025 Zuma Film Festival, organised by the Nigerian Film Corporation, will also screen another Chinese documentary, SHENZHOU 13, produced aboard China’s space station.

The festival serves as a meeting point for filmmakers from Nigeria and around the world to learn, network and collaborate.