The People’s Republic of China on Friday extolled the Chinese-Nigerian culture and civilization to have contributed to the world’s sustainable development.

The Chinese Ambassador-designate to Nigeria, Cui Jianchun, said this in his address at the Sustainable Gastronomy Day (SGD) celebration held in Abuja.

Jianchun, represented by Mr. Li Xuda, Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, defined gastronomy to mean the practice or art of choosing, cooking, and eating good food.

The event was organized by the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

Li said: “As some of us are aware, in 2016 the UN General Assembly designated 18^th of June as an international observance for SGD.

“It is really a great decision which acknowledges gastronomy as a cultural expression related to the natural and cultural diversity of the world.

“It reminds us that all cultures and civilization, including China and Nigeria cultures and civilization, are contributors of the world’s sustainable development.

“China and Nigeria have similarities in lots of fields, including gastronomy, Nigerians are always proud of their food culture and the cuisine in Nigeria dates back to 9000 years of African tradition.

“I believe that our food culture will be better developed and our peoples’ living standard will further improve and our two countries sustainable development will be greatly promoted.”

Dr Ifeoma Anyanwutaku, the Permanent Secretary of, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, commended the SGD initiative to connect people, the planet, and profit.

According to her, in the global tourism industry, gastronomy has become a major tourist pull factor and largely defines some inherent attractions in a tourist destination.

Anyanwutaku said: “For us in Nigeria, culture is our competitive tourism advantage, most of which are identified by Nigerian cuisines and their methods of preparations.

“Sustainable gastronomy is, therefore, a call to action for us to improve our food and cuisines production processes without compromising the ability of future generations to access quality foods.

“With over 300 ethnic groups and their corresponding unique cuisines, Nigeria has enormous potential of becoming the Mecca of Food tourism in Africa.

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“To this end, the Federal Government recognizes the pivotal roles that sustainable gastronomy can play in Nigeria tourism development, in line with its efforts to reduce mass poverty and youth restlessness.”

On his part, Sen. Rochas Okorocha, a lawmaker representing the Imo-West Senatorial district, underscored food, clothing, shelter, and education to be four basic necessities of life, which showcases the culture of people.

He mentioned that the celebration of SGD has become key to sensitize people more on the importance of intake of a balanced diet to promote nation-building.

“In Nigeria, we do not eat right, 90 percent of our nation’s population does not eat right.

“We must use this day to educate our children on what food means and what quality food means; in Nigeria we take carbohydrate, garri in the morning then we change it to pounded yam.

“This is why sugar disease is on the increase, you are what you eat, and two things are key, if you eat right and stay in a good environment you cannot be sick,” Okorocha said.

The high point of the event was an exhibition of Nigerian and Chinese cuisines as well as a display of traditional dances.