Zongzi Bridges Asia-Africa: Envoys Celebrate Dragon Boat Festival in Tianjin
From June 16 to 17, 2026, Women Empowerment & Development Society in Asia-Africa (WEDS.AA), together with Foreign Affairs Office of Tianjin Municipal People’s Government and Tianjin People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, held a cultural event called “Experience Tianjin, Celebrate Dragon Boat Festival.” They invited diplomats and their spouses from more than ten countries, including Malawi, Gambia, Senegal, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Kenya, to visit Tianjin.
During the two-day visit, the guests visited local companies, enjoyed Tianjin’s special culture, took a boat tour on the Haihe River, and admired the city’s night views. Their schedule was full and enjoyable. They also went into a local community to experience Dragon Boat Festival traditions. They tried Chinese calligraphy, painting, sand painting, lacquer fan making, sachet making, and zongzi (rice dumpling) wrapping. They also went shopping and tasted local Tianjin snacks. All these activities left a deep and pleasant impression on them.
Mr. Luan Jianzhang, Director of Foreign Affairs Office of Tianjin Municipal People’s Government, met with the delegation and hosted a dinner for them.
The Ambassador of Malawi to China thanked the organizers for their warm hospitality and expressed great expectations for further cooperation with Tianjin. The Chairperson of The Group of African Ambassadors’ Spouses, who is also the spouse of the Ambassador of Gambia, spoke highly of Tianjin’s urban charm and the cultural beauty of the Dragon Boat Festival. Envoys and their spouses from various countries actively engaged with one another, shared their insights, offered suggestions for future exchanges, and participated with great enthusiasm.
Dr. Zhao Meiling, President of WEDS.AA, said that Tianjin has a long cultural history and is a place where Eastern and Western cultures meet. It is an important gateway for China’s international exchanges. This visit, which brought the envoys’ spouses into a local community to experience traditional Chinese folk customs up close, was a meaningful practice of people-to-people diplomacy. It helped the world understand Tianjin better, and also helped Tianjin open up to the world.
She stressed that this year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and African countries, and it is also the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. This visit to Tianjin has effectively enriched friendly cultural exchanges between China and Africa. Cultures shine brighter through exchange, and civilizations become richer through mutual learning. Exchange and mutual learning among civilizations are important forces for advancing human progress and maintaining peace and development.
