By Emmanuel Emeka
The Chinese Embassy in Nigeria has said China’s newly introduced zero-tariff policy for 53 African countries with diplomatic relations with Beijing will create new opportunities for Nigerian agricultural exports and strengthen economic cooperation between both countries.
The Director of the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria and Cultural Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy, Yang Jianxing, stated this during the “Maritime Silk Road Impression: Immersive Salon of Intangible Cultural Heritage from Ancient Zayton Port” held in Abuja.
Yang said the policy would open the Chinese market further to Nigerian agricultural products including sesame, cocoa beans, peanuts and cassava.
“I truly believe that more and more high-quality Nigerian agricultural products, such as sesame, cocoa beans, peanuts and cassava, will benefit from this zero-tariff policy. Along the modern Maritime Silk Road, they will find their way to more Chinese dinner tables,” he said.
According to him, the initiative reflects China’s commitment to deepening cooperation with African countries under the spirit of the ancient Silk Road.
“This step not only reflects China’s principle of ‘sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith’ toward Africa, but also embodies the Silk Road spirit of ‘unity, mutual trust, equality, mutual benefit, inclusiveness, and mutual learning’ in this new era,” Yang added.
He noted that the cultural event formed part of activities marking the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China, as well as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.
Speaking on cultural ties, Yang described tea as a symbol of dialogue, peace and mutual understanding among civilizations.
“In 2022, ‘Traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices in China’ were officially added to UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage. This honour reflects the creativity and cultural richness of the Chinese nation and carries the beautiful idea that ‘tea unites the world’,” he said.
The envoy also highlighted the historical importance of Quanzhou, historically known as “Zayton,” describing it as the only UNESCO-listed starting point of the Maritime Silk Road.
“Just imagine: a thousand years ago, its port was alive with ships and traders from all over the world. That famous image — ‘merchants from all nations gather as the tide rises’ — really shows how different civilisations came together and blended here,” he said.
Representing the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Abdulkarim Ibrahim conveyed the ministry’s goodwill message and described tea as a symbol of history, 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.
The ministry noted that although tea is not indigenous to Nigeria, it has continued to gain cultural and economic relevance across the country.
“The popularity of tea in Nigerian homes, markets and corporate spaces speaks to its role as a refined social lubricant,” the statement read.
According to the ministry, Nigeria’s growing tea market presents opportunities in agro-processing, branding and cultural tourism, while strengthening bilateral partnerships capable of expanding Nigeria’s creative economy globally.
The event featured exhibitions and live demonstrations of traditional Chinese tea ceremonies, incense culture, ceramics and guqin performances aimed at promoting cultural understanding and people-to-people exchanges between Nigeria and China.
