China and Nigeria has deepened their cultural diplomacy and people-to-people exchanges through tea ceremonies, guqin performances and traditional cultural displays at the 2026 Tea for Harmony Yaji Cultural Salon in Abuja, yesterday.
The salon themed: “Maritime Silk Road Impressions: Immersive Salon of Intangible Cultural Heritage from Ancient Zayton Port” featured four traditional Chinese ancient art aimed at promoting mutual understanding between both countries.
The salon was organised by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Nigeria, the China Center of International Cultural Exchange and Tourism Promotion, and the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria.
Minister of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, described tea as a Mr Zhou Hongyou, for dialogue and mutual learning among civilisations.
“Tea has become a bridge for dialogue and mutual learning between Chinese civilisation and other civilisations around the world”, he said.
He noted that Chinese tea culture, which originated about 5,000 years ago, spread globally through the Silk Road and Tea Road and had become part of people’s daily lives across the world.
According to him, the ancient Maritime Silk Road symbolised peaceful cooperation, openness, inclusiveness and mutual benefit among nations.
On his part, Mr Abdulkarim Ibrahim, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, represented by Mr Yohanna Evandu, described tea as a symbol of harmony and cultural exchange.
“Tea is far more than a beverage. It is a vessel of history, a symbol of harmony and a medium of cultural exchange,” he said.
Ibrahim noted that Nigeria’s growing tea culture reflected the country’s openness to global influences and intercultural dialogue.
The event featured a live performance of the ancient Chinese guqin musical instrument by Master Yang Chao, who also explained its over 3,000-year history and significance in traditional Chinese culture. NAN
