Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, said on Saturday that tea trade between China and Nigeria is thriving and enhancing trade relations between the two countries.

Mr Yu said this in Abuja during the “2025 Tea for Harmony Yaji Cultural Salon” event with the theme “Tea in Nature’s Whisper: Aroma of Picturesque Jiangnan.”

The ambassador affirmed that tea trade between China and Nigeria had blossomed in recent years, with the introduction of Hainan Baisha tea to the Nigerian market in 2024.

According to him, this marks a new chapter in the collaboration between the two nations in relation to the tea industry.

He said, “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. 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.”

Highlighting the significance of tea in Chinese culture, the envoy explained that the Chinese tea ceremony embodies five millennia of philosophical wisdom, emphasising harmony, purity, and elegance.

He stated, “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 civilisations.’’

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 were 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.

Mr Yu also expressed the embassy’s commitment to enhancing cooperation in various fields to strengthen the friendship between the two nations.

Also speaking, Leader of the Zhejiang Delegation, Researcher-Librarian of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Centre, Huang Yun, 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.

She noted that the event is themed “Tea in Nature’s Whisper Aroma of picturesque Jiangnan,” interpreting the oriental philosophy of “symbiosis between man and nature.’’

The highlight of the event is performances by artists from the Chinese delegation from Zhejiang, including elegant Yue Opera and pipa music,

There are exhibitions of Chinese calligraphy, painting, and photography showcasing Zhejiang’s culture and tourism.

(NAN)