The wife of the Chinese Premier, Prof. Heng Chong, has expressed confidence in the Nigerian government’s efforts to ensure the safe return of the abducted school girls in Chibok, Borno.
Chong said this on Wednesday in Abuja when the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, hosted her at the State House.
The Chinese Premier and his wife are in Abuja for the World Economic Forum on Africa together with 11 other leaders and 190 delegates.
“We have heard about the abduction of the girls; we feel sorry about this; I have a daughter and can imagine the pain the
mothers are going through.
“I am sorry to hear this but I believe in the Nigerian government’s effort to get them back and conquer the terrorists,” Chong said.
Chong said the African proverb that said “peace is better than wealth is correct”, and praised Jonathan’s effort at achieving peace.
”I believe you have done a lot for Africa and indeed the world in your peace efforts. I do admire you; we should choose to live simple lives.
We should think about how we can use less resources to make life more worthwhile,” she said.
She said that contrary to world view, women had equal rights.
“With dozens of ministers, lots of professors and experts, I think we have lots of things in common.
“We are both developing countries who should work hand in hand, especially in the peace mission and so we have brought some computers, digital cameras, tablet PCs to aid in your work.”
She said as a professor who taught and wrote books, she was half a professional and half a housewife but at the same time, felt excited to be meeting ”energetic, beautiful, powerful and brainy Africans on my first official visit outside China”.
Welcoming her Chinese counterpart to Nigeria, the first lady said that the insurgency would be a thing of the past soon.
“Two months ago, the regional heads of the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM) met because of the insurgency and we brought together youths across the country to canvass and adopt a motion for peace.”
She expressed confidence that both countries would emerge closer and deepen ties after the economic forum.
”I was in China last year and I had a memorable trip. I believe there will be a stronger relationship between the two countries after this visit.
“We have lots of Chinese in this country helping out in construction and other sectors.”
Going down memory lane, Jonathan said it was in Beijing that the first meeting of women, who adopted the Affirmative Action for a better representation of women in governance, (known as the 35 per cent representation) took place.
”For the first time since independence, our women have 13 ministers in key ministries like the aviation, environment,
finance among others.
“At the federal level, we are working to ensure that parliamentarians pass into law the 35 percent Affirmative action.
In some states though, it is in their constitution and the presence of women are felt in those states.”
She said as the president of the AFLPM, she was also involved in lasting peace on the continent.
“I am privileged to be the president of the mission; we have been fighting to ensure peace in our countries, regions and in Africa.
”We have given debt relief to countries like Mali where we are also training children in skill acquisition, Congo, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Saharawi.”
NAN reports that the delegation is expected to join other presidents and delegates at a state banquet later in the evening.
