The Ambassador of the Peoples’ Republic of China to Nigeria, Dr. Zhou Pinjian has revealed China’s dream to eradicate absolute poverty by 2020 and achieve modernization in 2035.
He stated this at the University of Jos, where the Chinese government awarded scholarship worth N4.7 million to 47 undergraduate students of the university.
“In 2020, China will eradicate poverty by 100 per cent, 2035 it will achieve its modernization and the middle of the century build China to became a greater country, and we hope to realise the Chinese dream.”
Pinjian said in 1978, China had 1.8 per cent of the world’s GDP, while its population was more than 20 per cent of the world, now it has 15 per cent of the world’s GDP with about the same population ratio.
The ambassador appreciated the government for the hospitality shown to him and his entourage during the visit, stressing that there exist a bond as well as similarity between Nigeria and China as the two countries set up diplomatic relationship on February 10, 1971.
He noted that the country believes that it is on the right path in the pursuit of its dream of rejuvenation as it values international relation, adding that a nation will prosper when its younger generation thrives.
The Vice-Chancellor of UNIJOS, Prof. Sebastian Maimako commended the ambassador for his visit, saying that the 43- year-old institution with 12 faculties and centre has a population of over 30,000 students and multi campus. He said the award of scholarship to 47 students will deepen their relationship.
Maimako pleaded with the ambassador to establish a Chinese resource center to create awareness of both countries, saying that the university has two centres of bio research and called for collaborative research because the Chinese are good in that area.
