Distinguished Assistant Secretary-General Navid Hanif,

Your Excellency Ambassador Laura Dupuy Lasserre,

Dear Guests and Friends,

Good evening, and a very warm welcome to you all.

Thank you for joining us at this celebration of International Tea Day, hosted by the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations and Zhejiang Province of China.

In 2019, the 74th session of the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution designating May 21 as International Tea Day. Today, as we mark this special occasion, we are delighted to share with you not only the fragrance of the renowned Longjing tea from Zhejiang, but also the inspiring stories behind it.

Our first story is about harmony between humanity and nature.

China is the birthplace of tea, and Zhejiang is the home to the famous Longjing. For centuries, the rolling green hills and lush tea gardens in Zhejiang have not only sustained local livelihoods, but also shaped a unique way of life for the people there.

Following China’s reform and opening up, Zhejiang became one of the key engines of the country’s economic growth. But rapid development also brought challenges to the province. In some areas, practices such as excessive quarrying and the expansion of polluting industries did generate short-term economic gains, yet at a very heavy environmental cost.

In August 2005, then Party Secretary of Zhejiang Province Xi Jinping put forward the vision that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”. Guided by this philosophy, Zhejiang firmly rejected the old path of “pollute first, clean up later.” In the core Longjing tea-producing areas, major ecological restoration efforts were launched. Damaged hillsides were rehabilitated, greener cultivation methods were promoted, and once again, verdant landscapes and the elegant aroma of tea returned to the local communities.

Today, this philosophy that “green is gold” has become a nationwide commitment across China. Economic growth and environmental protection are no longer an either-or choice, but mutually reinforcing priorities.

The second story is about steadfast commitment to rural revitalization.

China is home to 451 million rural population. In other words, roughly one in every three Chinese people lives in rural areas. To achieve national rejuvenation, rural revitalization is essential.

In 2003, Zhejiang launched the Green Rural Revival Program to improve rural living environments and foster what is now known as the “beautiful economy.” Building on the unique strengths of Longjing tea, local communities developed tea-and-tourism towns and tea industry clusters, creating an integrated value chain that combines cultivation, processing, cultural tourism, and entrepreneurship.

In the past, local livelihoods depended primarily on growing and selling tea. Today, the rural economy has diversified into a wide range of sectors, such as art studios, boutique homestays, and eco-tourism.

Technology has also transformed tea production and processing. Robotic harvesting, drone delivery, smart processing, and e-commerce platforms are improving both the quality and added value of Longjing tea, injecting fresh momentum into rural revitalization.

The third story is about development for the people.

For China, the people’s aspiration for a better life is what we strive for.

In Zhejiang’s Longjing tea-producing regions, whether in upgrading rural infrastructure, improving the ecological environment of tea plantations, or managing tea cooperatives, a people-centered approach has remained at the heart of development. The goal is to ensure that local residents can participate in decision-making, share development benefits, and advance together toward common prosperity through inclusive and sustainable development.

In Zhejiang, many villages and towns have established local platforms such as “Tea Garden Forums” and “People’s Livelihood Councils” to encourage community-level democratic consultation. Starting from the everyday concerns people care about most, these efforts seek to ensure that everyone’s safety, health, and dignity are protected, and that every individual has the opportunity to pursue their dreams and live a better life.

Dear Friends,

The “green is gold” philosophy and the Green Rural Revival Program represent not only a successful path for China, but also a vivid example of implementing the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

We hope such best practices may offer inspiration to other countries. More importantly, we hope that every country and every community can find a development path suited to its own conditions.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of President Xi Jinping’s proposal of the Global Development Initiative. China will continue to actively advance the Initiative and support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Across the world’s major languages, the word for tea is generally pronounced in one of two ways: “cha” or “tea”. Both trace their origins to the ancient Silk Road from China. Different words, yet a shared root and a shared aspiration. Let us join hands to seek harmony through tea, and pursue shared development for all.

Thank you.