By Ladi
Abuja, May 24, 2025- The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, on Saturday in Abuja has announced that the tea trade between China and Nigeria is thriving, enhancing trade relations.
Yu stated this during the “2025 Tea for Harmony Yaji Cultural Salon” in Abuja, an event with the theme “Tea in Nature’s Whisper: Aroma of Picturesque Jiangnan.”
The Ambassador noted that in recent years, the China-Nigeria tea trade has blossomed, with the introduction of Hainan Baisha tea to the Nigerian market in 2024.
This marked a new chapter in the collaboration between the two nations within the tea industry.
“The tea fragrance crossing thousands of miles shows that a small tea leaf can not only nourish the body but also warm the soul, becoming a ‘green envoy’ that promotes economic, trade cooperation, and cultural exchanges between China and Nigeria,” he stated.
He emphasised the deep roots of tea in Nigerian culture, mentioning that it is woven into the daily life of the people.
“From the sweet tea stalls on the streets of Lagos to the mint tea found in the historic city of Kano, tea is not just a beverage but an important social bond,” he added.
Highlighting the significance of tea in Chinese culture, the Ambassador explained that the Chinese tea ceremony embodies five millennia of philosophical wisdom, emphasising harmony, purity, and elegance.
“The ethos of China’s tea ceremony, such as ‘harmony is precious’ and ‘making friends through tea,’ resonates profoundly with Nigeria’s cultural values, acting as a spiritual bridge between our two great civilizations,” he said.
He also pointed out the upgrading of bilateral relations to a during a meeting last year between both countries’ heads of state in Beijing, aimed at deepening cooperation through a three-year initiative called the “Ten Partnership Actions for Modernisation,” which focuses on culture, tourism, and education.
Furthermore, the Ambassador noted that 2026 has been designated the “China-Africa Year of Cultural and People-to-People Exchange.”
As part of this initiative, he noted that Nigerian students are learning tea art and opera in China while showcasing their own music and dance in Chinese cultural settings.
Conversely, Chinese volunteers are promoting the Chinese language and tea culture in Nigeria, while also engaging with local languages and customs.
Yu also expressed the Embassy’s commitment to enhancing cooperation in various fields to strengthen the friendship between the two nations.
Also speaking, Mrs Huang Yun, Leader of the Zhejiang Delegation, Researcher-Librarian of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Centre said that Tea and drama are cultural genes engraved in the blood of the Chinese people.
“Zhejiang, the land that gave birth to Lu Yu’s “The Classic of Tea” and Yue Opera “Butterfly Lovers”, today presents the poetic beauty of green mountains and dear waters and the lingering Wu dialect into a cup of tea and a piece of drama to Nigerian friends.
The event is themed Tea in Nature’s Whisper Aroma of picturesque Jiangnan”, interpreting the oriental philosophy of “symbiosis between man and nature”,” She said.
The highlight of the event is performances by artists from the Chinese delegation from Zhejiang, including elegant Yue Opera and pipa music,
The exhibitions of Chinese calligraphy, painting, and photo displays showcasing Zhejiang’s culture and tourism.NAN
