Your Excellencies,

Dear Colleagues, 

Friends,

Welcome to the celebration ceremony of the International Tea Day.

In 2019, the 74th session of the General Assembly adopted a resolution establishing May 21 as the International Tea Day. This not only speaks volumes about the economic, social, cultural, and ecological importance of tea, but also provides a valuable occasion for the exchanges among tea industries and tea cultures.

Today, we are once again brought together by our shared love for tea. I think this is a great opportunity for us to borrow the strength and wisdom that tea contains, to help the United Nations to revitalize itself on its 80th anniversary.

A tiny tea leaf can drive economic growth and uplift people's livelihoods. At present, the global tea industry has an annual production value exceeding 18 billion dollars and a trade volume of around 10 billion dollars, helping tens of millions of farmers around the world get out of poverty and improve their well-being. For example, Chinese tea is now exported to more than 100 countries, and has become a model of international trade for mutual benefits.

A tiny tea leaf can offer a smart solution for the harmonious co-existence between humanity and nature. The Chinese character for tea, consists of three parts, grass on the top, human in the middle, and wood at the bottom. The character itself is a vivid picture of "people living in nature". As a green industry, tea cultivation not only conforms to the law of nature, but also gives back to the nature. It is a perfect interpretation of the ecological civilization concept proposed by President Xi Jinping.

A tiny tea leaf can also serve as a messenger of peace between civilizations. In ancient time, tea has traveled across deserts, mountains, rivers, and lakes, and become an envoy between Chinese and Western civilizations. Today, tea-drinking traditions flourish worldwide, giving rise to rich and diverse tea cultures. Transcending time and borders, tea reflects humanity's universal aspiration for peace, tranquility, happiness, and fulfillment.

Dear Colleagues,

Tea is deeply embedded in the daily life of the Chinese people. China's traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices have been inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The promotion and development of tea cultivation, tea economy, and tea culture represent a best practice in implementing the Global Development Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. It is also a proven path toward mutual learning and shared prosperity among countries.

This year, we are glad to bring Laoshan tea to the United Nations, which is a hallmark product of Malipo County, located in the southwestern border of China. In recent years, with the support of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Laoshan tea industry has made tremendous progress, and has become a symbol of the achievements made in poverty alleviation and rural revitalization in China's border regions.

In a short while, our friends from Malipo—who have traveled a long way to be here—will present their well-prepared tea art and dance performance.

After that, we invite you to tour the special exhibition of "China's Poverty Alleviation Model: A Case Study of Malipo County". I hope you enjoy it. 

I wish you a pleasant evening! Thank you.