On June 13, the Guardian published an artlcle titled "Rumour that China is a security threat to the world false, says Yuqing". The full context is as bellow:

Chinese Consul General to Nigeria, Yan Yuqing, was deployed to Lagos last week. Yuqing, who is the first female Consul General, is the eight Consul General of the Chinese Consulate in Lagos. She was formerly Brazil Consul General. Yuqing was christened Uche by the media. In this interview with NGOZI EGENUKA, she speaks about Africa-China partnership, the need for cultural exchange and gender equity.

What effort is China putting in place to help Nigeria achieve a better and more diversified economy?

China and Nigeria not only have friendly relations but also complementarity in various areas. Nigeria has an abundance of natural resources and labour forces. Economic and trade relations are the main pillars of our bilateral relations. There are hundreds of Chinese companies and business people operating here, especially in infrastructure, energy, agriculture, science and technology, health and environmental protection. These companies are using their advanced technology, equipment, experience and finance to deepen the bilateral relationship. So, the mutual beneficial cooperation between the two countries aims to bring tangible benefits.

The China-Africa Cooperation is a very popular and important platform for the two countries to cooperate and there are nine large projects under the forum and most economic trade cooperation programmes have found their place in Nigeria, especially Lagos. And I think in the future, we can also look for more opportunities in the artificial intelligence and data industry.

My mission is to deepen the China-Nigeria strategic partnership. I am confident that China-Nigeria cooperation would have a broad future. After the establishment of diplomatic relations between both countries, we have achieved lots of results in politics, economy, people to people exchanges and other areas. I hope that through the media, the real China would be heard and understood by the Nigerian people.

What are some challenges both countries face and how do you intend to tackle them?

I think the cause of the challenges faced is that many Nigerian youths don’t have a true understanding of China, especially as some Western media have fabricated some rumors to distort the image of China. The most fundamental thing to do is to increase the people-to- people exchanges to build mutual trust.

There are rumors that China is threatening the security of the world and exploiting the resources of African countries but the facts prove that all efforts we have made are to provide a better life for people. I also encourage these Chinese companies to always give back to the society as they make profits.

What is your advice for youths planning to study in China?

I strongly support Nigerian youths to visit China and communicate with their Chinese counterparts to understand how they live, work and think.

The Chinese government has also offered fellowship programmes to Nigerian students to study in China and through this, Nigerian students would be more skilled to help build bilateral relations.

There are two Confucius institutes in Lagos and Awka, which serve as a bridge to promote traditional Chinese culture in local communities in Nigeria. There is already cooperation between universities in both countries.

As the first female Consul General, what inspired you into diplomacy?

I feel honoured to be the first female Consul General of the Chinese Consulate here in Lagos. I think the Chinese foreign ministry sent me here maybe to use my soft power more effectively as I fulfill my diplomatic mission. I would be more focused on the course of women and children here.

What efforts is China taking to promote gender equity?

The Chinese government has attached great importance to gender equity. We have the Constitution and many laws to protect the legitimate rights and interests of women. In terms of employment, we may see a lot of inequality for women, however in China, we have specific laws and regulations to guarantee that women participate in the labour market. There are more female leaders in various areas of China.

What investment opportunities are available in China for Nigerians?

The Chinese market has great potential and has opened its doors to Nigerian investments. China has favourable business environment especially the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

(Read the original resourse at: Rumour that China is a security threat to the world false, says Yuqing | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News — Interview — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News )