China Warns Citizens in Nigeria against Maltreating Employees

The government of the Peoples Republic of China has warned its citizens living and doing business in Nigeria and other parts of Africa against ill-behaviour towards their employees, saying it will not condone any act capable of tarnishing China’s image and simultaneously hampering the good relations between the two countries.

Speaking during a session with African jourmalists who are currently on a visit to China, Director General of Information in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Lu Shaye, said the government was aware of the misdemeanours of some of its citizens towards their employees in Nigeria and other parts of Africa, insisting that “we oppose such actions.”

Shaye who was responding to questions by the delegation about the ill-behaviour of Chinese employees towards their employers in the country, explained that the government was currently devising ways of correcting such anomalies, adding that the government had warned its citizens in all parts of Africa to treat peoples of their host countries with respect, obey their rules and regulations and as well live in harmony with them.

According to Shaye who distanced China and the government from “such acts, such attitudes are totally isolated and doesn’t represent China’s attitude,” as he appealed to the African media to assist the government of China in exposing any negative acts of Chinese residents in their countries, emphasising that the media should report such acts in a way that the relations between Africa and the country will not be hampered.
Further, he noted that “improper acts of some Chinese will also affect the image of China in Africa. This deserves prompt attention. Chinese in African countries should behave themselves and promote Chinese culture,” he warned.

In the same vein, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has appealed to African journalists to give better coverage to events in China, regretting that much of what is known in Africa about China is done through the Western media.

While promising that the government will also ensure the coverage of Africa by Chinese media, the ministry pledged government assistance to African journalists who are willing to cover China or be resident in the country.

(Thisday)