Abuja: Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, says that tea trade between China and Nigeria is thriving and enhancing trade relations between the two countries. 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.’
According to News Agency of Nigeria, 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. He stated that this marks a new chapter in the collaboration between the two nations in relation to the tea industry.
Yu emphasized that the fragrance of tea crossing thousands of miles shows that a small tea leaf can nourish the body and warm the soul, becoming a ‘green envoy’ that promotes economic, trade cooperation, and cultural exchanges between China and Nigeria. He noted that tea is not just a beverage but an important social bond, seen from the sweet tea stalls on the streets of Lagos to the mint tea in the historic city of Kano.
Highlighting the significance of tea in Chinese culture, Yu explained that the Chinese tea ceremony embodies five millennia of philosophical wisdom, emphasizing harmony, purity, and elegance. He noted that the ethos of China’s tea ceremony resonates with Nigeria’s cultural values, acting as a spiritual bridge between the two great civilizations.
He also pointed out the upgrading of bilateral relations to a meeting in 2024 between both countries’ heads of state in Beijing, aimed at deepening cooperation through a three-year initiative called the ‘Ten Partnership Actions for Modernisation,’ focusing on culture, tourism, and education. Furthermore, Yu noted that 2026 has been designated the ‘China-Africa Year of Cultural and People-to-People Exchange.’
As part of this initiative, 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. Mrs. Huang Yun, Leader of the Zhejiang Delegation, also spoke, highlighting tea and drama as cultural genes engraved in the blood of the Chinese people.
Huang stated that Zhejiang, the land that gave birth to Lu Yu’s ‘The Classic of Tea’ and Yue Opera ‘Butterfly Lovers’, 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’s theme, ‘Tea in Nature’s Whisper Aroma of Picturesque Jiangnan,’ interprets the oriental philosophy of ‘symbiosis between man and nature.’
NAN reports that the highlight of the event were performances by artists from the Chinese delegation from Zhejiang, including elegant Yue Opera and pipa music. There were also exhibitions of Chinese calligraphy, painting, and photo displays showcasing Zhejiang’s culture and tourism.