On the afternoon of February 18, the Xijiao State Guest Hotel in Shanghai was filled with the fragrant aroma of Keemun black tea. "Keemun black tea is excellent; I love its elegant fragrance!" said Zhu Mengfang, the Deputy Consul General of the South African Consulate in Shanghai, as she leaned in to savor the tea's aroma. With a look of delight on her face, she took a sip and praised the Keemun black tea, even purchasing the variety she had tasted.

Seeing this, Zhang Yu, the global ambassador for Keemun black tea, handed over her business card, inviting Zhu Mengfang to Anhui for the 2025 Spring Tea Opening Festival and the Global Keemun Black Tea Tasting event, to experience the tea's picking and production process firsthand. Zhu Mengfang gladly accepted, promising to attend. She then handed over her own business card, inviting Zhang Yu and others to the South African Consulate in Shanghai to share Anhui's unique tea culture and tasting experiences.

At the "Splendid Anhui Welcoming the World, Anhui Province's Chinese New Year Reception for Foreign Delegations in Shanghai, China" event, such "business card exchanges" were a recurring scene. "Cards" representing the unique characteristics and cooperative spirit of Anhui, like Keemun black tea, were passed among friends from China and abroad, building bridges of friendship and collaboration.

Entering the intangible cultural heritage exhibition area, beautifully crafted fish lanterns seemed to tell foreign friends about the vitality and spirit of Anhui's rural areas. Copper engraving artisans focused intently, skillfully chiseling copper plates, illustrating Anhui's rich historical heritage. The brightly colored, intricately shaped Taihe decorative steamed buns, conveyed the vibrant folk customs of Anhui. These intangible cultural heritage "business cards" showcased Anhui's cultural confidence, bringing Anhui closer to the world through interaction and exchange.

This networking event enhanced the understanding of foreign consulates in Shanghai regarding Anhui's comprehensive implementation of new development concepts and the latest achievements in promoting high-quality development. Participants experienced the harmonious blend of traditional Anhui culture and modern technology, solidifying the foundation for deepening friendly exchanges and practical cooperation with Anhui. It also enhanced the sense of gain and belonging for those involved in the practice of modernization in Anhui, effectively serving the province's high-level opening to the outside world.

With the exchange of these characteristic "business cards," Anhui is becoming more active on the world stage, joining hands with global partners to embark on a new chapter of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.

Source: Anhui Daily