More than 800 Chinese and their foreign friends gathered in Lagos, Nigeria's commercial and largest city, on Sunday to celebrate the first day of Chinese lunar New Year with dragon dance, delicious food, games and lottery drawing.

The new year gala was held in a factory of Wempco Group, a Hong Kong-based company which has been in Nigeria for more than three decades.

In his opening address, Luis Tung, chairman of the West Africa Council for the Promotion of China's Peaceful Reunification, said overseas Chinese in Nigeria and West Africa are wishing the country more prosperous in the coming Year of the Tiger.

Newly appointed Nigeria's Minister of Justice Adetokunbo Kayode was invited to the occasion. He said, "Nigeria is very proud of our relationship, business, commercial, cultural relationship with your country, China."

"Thank you for allowing me to be here today and I wish you happy new year, year of tiger, year of prosperity," he said.

Walter L. von den Driesch, Germany Consul General in Lagos, also took his staff to the party.They grilled sausages at the scene and provided guests with German beer and souvenirs.

"For me it's very good to have the opportunity to be here and be together with the Chinese people.And of course I wish you a happy new year and may the tiger bring you all the best of the new year," he said.

Chinese Consul General in Lagos Guo Kun attended the gathering and joined the celebrations with overseas Chinese and foreign friends.