ABUJA, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has extended his greetings to the Chinese government and people ahead of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, a presidential statement said on Saturday.

The statement said Buhari, in a letter to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, wishes for the Nigeria-China friendship to blossom and flourish for the benefit of the two peoples in the new year.

"As you commence festivities marking the Chinese Year of (the) Dog on Feb. 16, 2018, we congratulate and wish the Chinese people a prosperous and peaceful New Year," said the statement.

Buhari said in the past year, China recorded tremendous achievements in its economy, democracy and foreign relations, among others.

"The successful convening of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) opens a new chapter for China's New Era as a global leader in innovation, security, poverty alleviation, infrastructure and development financing," he said.

The celebration of the Spring Festival commenced a week ago in Nigeria, with a variety of China-Nigeria cultural activities being held in the capital city of Abuja.

Buhari commended the close relationship between Nigeria and China, saying he is pleased to see the bilateral political, economic, cultural and social ties getting stronger.

"I am looking forward to China hosting the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in Beijing in September this year, and have every reason to believe that the Year of the Dog will bring us more success and mutual benefits for China-Africa cooperation," he said.