STORY: Tea exchange nurtures blossoming China-African trade opportunities
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: Sept. 6, 2024
LENGTH: 0:02:27
LOCATION: HEFEI, China
CATEGORY: ECONOMY/CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of tea fields and tea factory
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): YE SONG, Export business manager of Jinyuming Food Co., Ltd.
3. various of tea fields
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): WU WEIWEI, Deputy general-manager of Huangshan Wangguangxi Songluo Tea Corp., Ltd.
5. various of tea fields
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): CHENG HAIXIAO, Worker in charge of export business at Huangshan Best Organic Tea Industrial Co., Ltd.
7. various of tea fields
8. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): IDRIS MAHMOUD, Chinese tea lover in Ghana
9. SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): XU JIMIAO, Tea expert in Huangshan City

STORYLINE:

China and Africa are closely connected through various trade and exchanges including tea exchange.

As one of the three major beverages in the world, tea originating from China is a daily necessity for many Africans to quench their thirst and cool off in hot and dry conditions. 

According to the Tea Industry Committee of the China Association for the Promotion of International Agricultural Cooperation, of China's top 10 tea-exporting countries and regions, seven are in Africa.

In Huangshan City, Jinyuming Food company has exported tea to nearly 10 African countries including Ghana, Senegal and Morocco since 2008, with an annual export volume of 8,000 tonnes of green tea.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): YE SONG, Export business manager of Jinyuming Food Co., Ltd.
"Beside me are products to be exported to Africa. We started to export green tea to Africa in 2008. Now we have 7 automated production lines, producing 40 tonnes of green tea every day. Africa is our most important market."

The tea exchanges between China and Africa date back to centuries ago when the ancient Maritime Silk Road boosted the trade and exchanges between continents.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): WU WEIWEI, Deputy general-manager of Huangshan Wangguangxi Songluo Tea Corp., Ltd.
"Hundreds of years ago, Songluo tea was exported to Africa, Europe, and other regions. Now we export it to over 10 African countries around the Sahara Desert and European countries as well."

Nowadays, more and more Chinese tea enterprises are tapping the African market and customizing products for different African countries.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): CHENG HAIXIAO, Worker in charge of export business at Huangshan Best Organic Tea Industrial Co., Ltd.
"We develop different products according to the drinking habits of different African countries. For example, people in West Africa prefer to use small pots to brew tea. About 90 percent of our products sold overseas are packed in small boxes of 25 grams like this. We also adjust tastes according to the needs of different African countries."

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): IDRIS MAHMOUD, Chinese tea lover in Ghana
"I just love Chinese tea. If you taste it, it has a natural taste. It refreshes your body. (I) introduced this one in particular to many Ghanaians. And the feedback that those people are giving to me is very amazing." 

SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): XU JIMIAO, Tea expert in Huangshan City
"I think tea trade between China and Africa will promote the friendship between the peoples."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Hefei, China.
(XHTV)