"The inscription of 'traditional Chinese tea-making techniques and related customs' on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity is very meaningful for the promotion of Chinese tea culture." General Secretary Xi Jinping recently gave important instructions on the protection of intangible cultural heritage, emphasizing the need to do a solid job of systematic protection of intangible cultural heritage, to better meet people's growing spiritual and cultural needs, and to promote cultural self-confidence and self-improvement.
Tea originated in China and has flourished around the world. General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to the protection, inheritance and development of tea culture, and has repeatedly "discussed the Tao of tea", explaining the cultural connotations embedded in tea, skillfully comparing the way of harmonious coexistence between human beings and nature, and advocating the value concepts of "harmony and difference" and "win-win cooperation" in international relations.
On May 21, 2020, General Secretary Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the "International Tea Day" series of activities, pointing out that the United Nations set up the "International Tea Day", reflecting the international community's recognition of the value of tea and attention to the revitalization of the tea industry, is very meaningful to carry forward the tea culture.
"As a major tea producing and consuming country, China is willing to work with all parties to promote the sustained and healthy development of the global tea industry, deepen the cross-fertilization and mutual understanding of tea culture, so that more people will know and love tea, savor the aroma of tea together and share a better life."
Under the attention and promotion of General Secretary Xi Jinping, a cup of "Chinese tea" has become an important carrier for the inheritance and promotion of Chinese culture.
From the ancient Silk Road, the Tea Horse Road, the Tea Boat Road, to today's Silk Road Economic Belt, the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, tea has crossed the history, crossed the borders, and is deeply loved by people from all over the world. Global tea-producing countries and regions amount to more than 60, tea drinking population reached more than 2 billion.
Green tea gardens bear witness to General Secretary Xi Jinping's great expectations for passing on cultural heritage, adhering to green development and promoting rural revitalization.
In March 2020, during a visit to Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, General Secretary Xi Jinping observed the frying process of Longjing tea and encouraged people to pass on traditional handicrafts and other intangible cultural heritage. In April of the same year, during a visit to Shaanxi, General Secretary Xi Jinping inspected the growth trend of spring tea along the tea plantation, talked with tea farmers, and hoped that the farmers would unswervingly take the road of ecological priority and green development, get rich and prosper from tea, and lift themselves out of poverty and run towards a prosperous life.
In March 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping checked the growth trend of spring tea in Wuyi Mountain, Fujian Province, to learn about the development of the local tea industry. "In the past, the tea industry was the pillar industry of poverty alleviation in your area, and in the future, it should become the pillar industry of rural revitalization." The general secretary urged the integration of tea culture, tea industry and tea science and technology.
It's spring again. In April 2022, General Secretary Xi Jinping came to Maona Village, Shuiman Town, Wuzhishan City, Hainan Province, to investigate and research. He participated in tea frying activities at a handmade tea workshop and also bought two bags of tea, encouraging the villagers to run the tea business well and make their days more prosperous.
The Tao of Tea embodies the Chinese philosophy of life and hospitality.
In April 2014, in Belgium, General Secretary Xi Jinping used the metaphor of "tea" and "wine" to describe the two different ways of savoring life and interpreting the world between the East and the West. "Tea and wine are not incompatible, you can drink wine with a friend, and you can also savor tea and life." China advocates "harmony and difference", while the EU emphasizes "diversity and unity". The General Secretary pointed out that China and the EU should work together to promote the blossoming of various human civilizations.
In July 2014, during a speech at the Brazilian Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping said, "200 years ago, the first batch of Chinese tea farmers came to Brazil across thousands of mountains to plant tea and teach skills." "The sincere friendship between the people of China and Brazil forged over the long years is just like the hard work of Chinese tea farmers, planting hope, harvesting joy and savoring friendship."
In January 2017, in Beijing, General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong talked about tea culture and the friendly relations between the people of China and Vietnam during a tea tasting. "When the word 'tea' is taken apart, it means 'people among the grass and trees'." General Secretary Xi Jinping's explanation has revealed the true meaning of "the Tao of nature" in Chinese culture.
Narrating with tea, reasoning with tea. Tiny leaves are full of greenery, and light fragrant tea moisturizes the heart. In the process of promoting the building of a community of human destiny, Chinese tea has become a cultural messenger conveying the concept of great power diplomacy with Chinese characteristics.