May 21 is the “International Tea Day” established by the United Nations General Assembly. Recently, Chinese tea culture experience activities were held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and in Vietnam, Serbia and other countries, attracting many people to feel the charm of oriental tea culture.
The Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China, organized the “Tea for Harmony” International Tea Day display and celebration activities at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on the evening of the 21st. Xinyang, Henan Province, as a famous tea-producing region in China, was invited to participate in the event. Inheritors of paper-cutting, face painting and shadow puppetry from Xinyang demonstrated their skills on the spot, while tea masters made the locally famous Xinyang Mao Jian, which enchanted the guests with its aroma.
Mr. Dai Bing, Deputy Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, said in his speech that “a small tea leaf carries the heavy responsibility of promoting sustainable development”. It is hoped that through the joint celebration of International Tea Day, tea will become a link to enhance communication and friendship, help implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and paint a beautiful picture of the community of human destiny.
“Tea for Harmony - Yaji” and the promotion of culture and tourism of Guangxi, China was held in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam on the 21st. The event used tea as a medium and cultural performances, photo exhibitions, cultural and tourism promotion, tea tasting and other forms as a supplement to showcase Guangxi's ethnic customs and tourism resources.
In his speech, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) Ho Van Chiu said the event is not only an important opportunity to promote Guangxi's cultural and tourism resources, but also to promote mutual visits between tourists from Vietnam and China, strengthen exchanges and cooperation, and share experience in sustainable tourism development. Wang Qun, Minister of the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam, said that China and Vietnam are connected by mountains and rivers and share many common cultural values, tea culture being one of them. We hope to take this opportunity to further strengthen China-Vietnam cultural and tourism exchanges and cooperation.
On the 21st, the Chinese Embassy in the U.S., the Hubei Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, and the Museum of Chinese in America in Washington, D.C. cooperated in organizing the 2024 “Tea for Harmony - Yaji” event. The Hubei Provincial Delegation, in cooperation with local tea masters in the United States, demonstrated the production techniques of Enshi Yulu, Changshengchuan Green Brick Tea and Jingwei Por Tea, as well as representative tea products, tea utensils and tea-making tools, and gave a live performance of tea art. Guests said that the event allowed them to fully appreciate the affinity and cohesion of Chinese tea culture.
Mr. Jing Quan, Minister of the Chinese Embassy in the U.S., said in his speech that tea is deeply rooted in the lives of Chinese people and is an iconic cultural symbol of China. Tea's subtlety, moderation, and calmness create the undertones of the Chinese national character and reflect China's way of getting along with the world. Tea has also played an important role in the history of U.S.-China relations. Although China and the United States have different histories, cultures and national conditions, this does not prevent us from sitting down together to sip tea and exchange ideas, and jointly explore the way of getting along with each other.
The “Tea for harmony - Yaji” event was held at the Chinese Cultural Center in Belgrade, Serbia on the 21st. Nearly 200 guests were immersed in the tea-making process and watched a performance of intangible heritage in Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, China. Serbian Assistant Minister of Tourism and Youth Denic said the event provided a rare opportunity to taste authentic Chinese tea and learn how to cook and make tea.
Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Li Ming said in a video message, looking forward to Serbian friends through the “Tea for Harmony - Yaji” activities, immersive experience of the charm of Quanzhou style, feel the charm of tea culture, and work together to promote the cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and Serbia, to build a new era of China-Serbia community of destiny to make a new and greater contribution.
A lecture on “Chinese Tea Culture” was held at the Chinese Cultural Center in Minsk, Belarus on the 21st. Wang Jianrong, academic member of the China International Tea Culture Research Association and founder of the Ask the Mountain Tea Club, explained Chinese tea culture and performed tea art for local tea enthusiasts, and the lecture also included several varieties of tea tasting activities.
Xia Guangyuan, Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Belarus and Director of the Chinese Cultural Center in Minsk, said in his speech that he hoped more local friends would like to enjoy and understand Chinese tea culture through the activity.
“On the eve of International Tea Day, the third Tea Culture Festival organized by the Confucius Institute in Brittany, France, was held on the 20th in Mollepa Park in Rennes, a city in northwestern France. Chinese and foreign tea experts, tea masters, tea farmers and potters gathered, inviting the public from all aspects of tea culture.