Tea Brings Kuwait and China Together: A Flavor That Strengthens Friendship and Cultural Exchange

The gathering of tea and sweets bridged the cultures of Kuwait and China during a cultural event held on Sunday evening at the Chinese Cultural Center, as part of the “Summer Cultural 18” festival. The event aimed to introduce the tea traditions of both countries and enhance cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two nations.

The event was organized by the Chinese Cultural Center in Kuwait in cooperation with the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, and was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Kuwait Yang Xin, Council Secretary-General Dr. Mohammed Al-Jassar, Director of the Chinese Cultural Center Liu Jinhong, and more than 150 attendees interested in culture, arts, media, and tea culture.

In a speech during the event, Ambassador Yang Xin stated that cultural exchange between China and Kuwait forms a “bridge connecting the hearts of the peoples of both countries,” noting that this year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

He emphasized that China and Kuwait have achieved fruitful results in various fields of cooperation over the past decades, based on mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit, stressing that cultural exchange plays a vital role in strengthening communication and understanding between the two peoples.

He explained that tea in Chinese culture carries a civilizational heritage spanning thousands of years, symbolizing “harmony, tolerance, and the convergence of beauty in diversity,” while food serves as a vital medium for expressing the cultures and identities of peoples.

In a statement to journalists, Yang Xin said that China looks forward to further cooperation with Kuwait in various fields, including culture, noting that such events contribute to enhancing mutual understanding and bringing the two peoples closer.

For his part, Al-Jassar affirmed that the Chinese tea preparation ceremony “carries in its details more than just an introduction to the method of preparing and serving tea; it opens a window to an authentic aspect of Chinese culture and introduces the audience to rituals and values passed down through generations.”

He pointed out that presenting Kuwaiti and Arabic tea arts alongside Chinese tea reflects the interconnections between cultures and shared daily customs, emphasizing that in many cultures, tea is “not merely a daily habit, but a means of communication, bringing people together and bridging distances between them.”

Al-Jassar considered cultural exchange a form of “soft diplomacy” that brings peoples closer and helps them understand one another.

For his part, Liu Jinhong, Director of the Chinese Cultural Center, said the Center is “pleased to use tea as a bridge to introduce the rich tea cultures of China and Kuwait,” noting that the tradition of welcoming guests by serving tea represents a shared value between the two cultures.

A tourism pavilion was also held to introduce tourism routes and resources related to tea culture in China, as part of the “Taste of China... Tea for Peace” program organized by the Chinese Cultural Center throughout 2026.