By Favour Ulebor, Abuja

In a bid to celebrate culture and strengthen people to people relations, over 100 students, artists, cultural practitioners and members of the diplomatic community gathered in Abuja on Monday for the 2026 Panda Painting Interactive Experience organised by the Chinese Cultural Centre in Nigeria.

The event, which featured interactive painting sessions inspired by the giant panda, served as a platform for promoting friendship, cultural appreciation and mutual understanding between Nigeria and China.

Speaking at the event, the Director General of the National Gallery of Art, Ahmed Bashir Sodangi, said, arts remains one of humanity’s most powerful tools for promoting understanding among people of different cultures and backgrounds.

According to him, the giant panda, regarded as China’s national treasure, embodies peace, friendship, harmony and environmental conservation, making it an ideal symbol for cultural exchange.

He commended the Chinese Embassy and the Chinese Cultural Centre for promoting people to people engagement through artistic initiatives that continue to strengthen relations between Nigeria and China.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Abdulkarim Ozi Ibrahim, described art as a universal language capable of transcending geographical, linguistic and social boundaries.

Ibrahim noted that the Panda Painting Interactive Experience provides a platform for fostering friendship, cultural appreciation and mutual understanding among nations.

He added that Nigeria and China have sustained strong diplomatic relations built on mutual respect and cooperation, with cultural exchanges complementing economic and political engagements.

On his part, Minister at the Chinese Embassy, Zhou Hongyou, said the programme formed part of activities marking the growing cultural partnership between the two countries.

He explained that the giant panda represents peace, inclusiveness and harmony in Chinese culture and serves as a bridge for dialogue among peoples.

“We will continue to support cultural, educational and artistic exchanges that strengthen friendship and mutual understanding between our two countries,” Zhou said.

Zhou noted that 2026 marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China, as well as the China Africa Year of People to People and Cultural Exchanges.