By Sarafina Christopher

Mr Yang Jianxing, Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Embassy and Director of China Cultural Center in Nigeria (CCCNIG), has said that tea brings people together and promotes cultural exchanges.

He said this at an event on “The Art of Tea: A Chinese Tea Ceremony ” and the unveiling of the Africa-China tourism expo 2025 on Tuesday in Abuja.

The event was hosted by the Chinese Tourism Promoters, China Cultural Center and the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria.

The envoy explained that through the ancient Silk Road, the three main commodities transported from China to foreign countries were silk, tea and porcelain.

“About 3,000 years ago, the Chinese began to grow, pick, prepare and drink tea.

“After thousands of years of development, six major tea categories including green tea, yellow tea, black tea, white tea, oolong tea and processed tea were formed.

“Thousands of tea products have been developed so far for people to drink and share. In China, the tea ceremony includes two parts: tea art and tea ceremony spirit.

“Tea art refers to the art of making tea, brewing tea, and tasting tea.

“The spirit of tea ceremony refers to improving people’s moral cultivation through tea art and cultivating the philosophical view of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, and between humans,” he said.

Yang added that Chinese tea culture, which has health benefits and advocates cultivation of body and mind and mutual respect, has become a world-famous tea culture.

“A way of life shared by people of all countries. In 2022, research indicated that at least more than 50 countries around the world grow tea, and more than 120 countries import tea from China.

“Nowadays, tea has not only become a popular drink around the world, but also acted as a special language of global communication.

“In every country, lots of people like to drink tea with their family members and friends,” Yang said.

Mrs Olufolake AbdulRazaq, the wife of the Governor of Kwara state and Chairperson of the Governor’s wife’s Forum, said that the unveiling of the expo would foster cross-cultural understanding between Nigeria and China.

She added that it would also promote economic growth and support initiatives to boost tourism and trade.

“As you may be aware, Kwara State is fast growing into being the entertainment and tourism hub of the country.

“The state government’s investment in critical and social infrastructure is opening the state for investment, not only in tourism, but all sectors of the state’s economy,” she said.

Mr Phil Roberts, President of China Tourism Promoters, also said that tea was a unifying product that could also be used for medicinal benefits or “for the flavours”.

“It is time to promote what we have. We should really cultivate tea and do it the way it should be done and it will increase the GDP. Because of oil, we have jettisoned many value adding products in Nigeria.

“The Chinese Embassy is showing us that there are things we can use to improve the economy and to take the country to the next level.

“Nigeria has good land and it is time Nigerians think of what they can do for themselves and the country.”

Roberts also urged citizens and the government to further harness the industry.(NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz