China-supported tea processing factory constructed under the “Vibrant Village” project in Nuwakot has been handed over to a local cooperative for operation and management.

The facility, built with support from the China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD), was formally transferred to the Kimtang Village Tea Cooperative on Sunday. Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song handed over the project plaque to cooperative chairperson Sarman Tamang during a ceremony attended by provincial and local officials, community representatives, and villagers.

The tea factory is part of the CFRD’s broader initiative under the China-South Asian Countries Poverty Alleviation and Development Cooperation Centre, which also includes a similar project in Mahankal Rural Municipality, Lalitpur. The programme aims to promote sustainable rural development in Nepal, CFRD said in a statement.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Chen said the project reflects China’s efforts to apply its rural development and poverty alleviation experience in Nepal. He emphasised that agriculture is central to Nepal’s development and noted China’s commitment to supporting sustainable initiatives such as rice and vegetable farming, and upcoming buffalo and fish farming support.

“The tea assistance workshop will help increase the income of Nepali tea farmers and strengthen Nepal’s role in the global tea market,” he said. “It is the outcome of joint efforts between the peoples of China and Nepal.”

Bagmati Province Chief Minister Bahadur Singh Lama said the two tea projects have not only boosted tea production in Nuwakot and Lalitpur, but also set a model for replicating Chinese rural development strategies in Nepal. “This project offers a valuable blueprint for sustainable industrial growth in three provinces,” he said.

CFRD Nepal Country Director Zou Zhiqiang thanked participants for attending the ceremony at the 2,000-metre-high tea plantation site and reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to implementing President Xi Jinping’s call to build a world free of poverty. She also highlighted CFRD’s 2024 initiative that helped Nepali farmers export fresh vegetables to Qatar, showcasing Chinese NGOs’ expanding role in Nepal’s rural development.

Chairman of Myagang Rural Municipality Asha Tamang expressed gratitude to the Chinese government and CFRD for their support. He recounted the April visit to China by local tea farmers, who received training on tea picking, processing, and market development.

“We are currently planting 300,000 tea trees and look forward to continued collaboration with China to grow our local tea industry,” he said.

Following the ceremony, guests visited tea plantations, participated in picking and processing activities, and observed Chinese machinery being used at the factory. Local tea farmers said they are committed to utilising the facility to improve quality and productivity, aiming to transform Nuwakot into a tea hub comparable to Ilam in eastern Nepal.