Savor friendship in a cup of tea — Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Xie Feng at the “Tea for Harmony: East Meets West in Music” event

清茗酬知己，雅乐意悠长——谢锋大使在“茶和天下 乐贯中西”·雅集活动上的致辞

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Dear friends,

Good evening!

尊敬的各位来宾，

女士们，先生们，朋友们：

It is a great delight to celebrate the International Tea Day with so many tea lovers, and together explore the charm of tea alongside classical Eastern and Western melodies. For the Chinese, tea is not just a drink, but a way of life and a refined art over the past thousands of years. Today, it is both a healthy drink popular around the world, and a symbol of Chinese culture. Through the “magical oriental leaves”, you can have a glimpse into China’s natural and cultural treasures.

很高兴同各位知茶人、爱茶人共同庆祝“国际茶日”，品香茗，赏雅乐，觅知音。中国人常说“开门七件事，柴米油盐酱醋茶”，中国文人雅士素来讲究“琴棋书画诗酒茶”。茶与中国人相伴几千年，既是下里巴人的生活必需品，又是阳春白雪的精神寄托；既是全球同享的健康饮品，也是承载历史文化的中国名片。通过这片“神奇的东方树叶”，各国友人可以体味中国的物华天宝，感知中华文化的独特魅力。

Tea connects history with reality, and embodies China’s principles of modesty and respect for others. Born in China, tea is an epitome of its time-honored civilization, which has spanned over 5,000 years. We welcome guests with a cup of tea, and offer tea to teachers at school ceremonies and parents at weddings. Through the ritual, you can see how much the Chinese value humility, harmony, etiquette and respect for others.

茶连接历史与现实，蕴含谦和礼敬的处世哲学。中国是茶的故乡，中华民族五千年文明画卷中，每一页都飘散着清幽茶香。千百年来，从以茶待客、以茶会友，到拜师礼上以茶敬师、婚庆中以茶敬上，敬茶作为重要礼仪传承至今，彰显中国人谦虚、和谐、礼貌、尊重的人文精神和价值追求。

Today, Chinese tea is evolving with the times. Sitting around a stove to brew tea is becoming a trendy way to connect with friends. The market size for new Chinese-style tea drinks has reached nearly 50 billion US dollars. Around the world, many have taken to bubble tea as a sweet comfort, and brands like Heytea, Gong Cha and Chagee are catching on among young people.

In a tea ceremony, it is important to ensure everyone tastes the same tea and every cup is served in a respectful manner. The brewing process itself is an art of balance too. Underlying this is our belief that only with equality and respect can we achieve peaceful coexistence, and harmony brings prosperity to all.

今天，中国茶以开放包容的姿态拥抱时代潮流，“围炉煮茶”成为社交新宠，中国新茶饮市场规模近500亿美元，喜茶、贡茶、霸王茶姬等深受美国年轻人喜爱，奶茶成为世界各国人民共享的“甜蜜安慰剂”。正如茶道讲求“分茶匀盏，以礼相敬；水火相济，以和致远”，平等尊重才能和平共处，和衷共济才能和气致祥。

Tea connects man with nature, and illustrates China’s philosophy of observing the laws of nature. 茶, the Chinese character for tea, is structured as an individual between trees and grasses. “Good mountains and waters make good teas.” The Chinese deeply value harmony between man and nature. In the videos of the Chinese vlogger Li Ziqi, you can see how we flow with the rhythm of the seasons: in late spring, she dried up tea leaves plucked during the grain rain solar term, which is believed to be the best time for tea. In winter, she made ginger rice tea, which keeps one warm the whole day.

茶连接人与自然，承载道法自然的哲学思想。“茶”字拆开，就是“人在草木间”，好山好水出好茶，是人与自然和谐共生的生动体现。中国博主李子柒用视频记录春播夏长、秋收冬藏，从春天晾晒谷雨茶到冬天炒制姜米茶，我们跟随镜头也能领略返璞归真的田园生活，以及清、敬、怡、真的茶道精神。

Green is gold. The tea industry has not only boosted China’s economy but also benefited the whole world. From Malipo County in Yunnan Province to Anxi County in Fujian, tea has become the “golden leaves” that lift people out of poverty and lead them to prosper. Currently, global tea production amounts to over 18 billion US dollars annually, while the value of total tea trade is estimated at around 9.8 billion. Tens of millions of farmers around the globe are living a better life thanks to the industry. As a major tea producer and consumer, China is committed to promoting the sustainable development of the global tea industry so that more people will benefit from it.

一茶兴百业，茶产业是“绿水青山就是金山银山”的绝佳诠释，也是惠及全球的绿色经济。从云南麻栗坡到福建安溪，茶成为脱贫致富的“金叶子”，不断书写“一片叶子富一方百姓”的精彩故事。全球茶叶年产值超过180亿美元、贸易额达98亿美元，世界各地数千万农民因茶致富、因茶兴业。作为茶叶生产和消费大国，中国积极推动全球茶产业持续健康发展，让茶香走进更多人的幸福生活。

Tea also connects China with the world, and reflects China’s value of harmony in diversity. As early as over 2,000 years ago, Chinese tea started to spread to other parts of the world along the ancient Silk Road and the Tea Horse Road, bringing fragrance rather than conflict wherever it went, and building bridges of exchanges and friendship. Now, tea is produced in over 60 countries and regions, and consumed by nearly 3 billion people in more than 160 countries and regions, becoming a daily necessity for many.

茶连接中国与世界，展现和而不同的广阔胸怀。茶出中国，香飘万里。2000多年前，中国茶就开始通过丝绸之路、茶马古道等翻山越岭、漂洋过海，给世界各国带去的是茶香而不是硝烟，成为促进各国人民交流与友谊的纽带。如今，全球已有60多个国家和地区产茶，160多个国家和地区近30亿人饮茶，茶早已成为世界人民生活不可或缺的一部分。

Every land nurtures its own tea. Today, we will get to savor Oolong tea and Lapsang Souchong black tea, both from Fujian Province but each with its unique magic. Likewise, coffee and tea are not incompatible with each other. Both can perk you up and leave a sweet aftertaste. And guess what: the United States is now the world’s third largest tea importer, while China has nearly 400 million coffee drinkers. This has again proven that it is entirely possible for different civilizations to draw on each other and flourish together.

一方水土一方茶，今日茶席之上福建乌龙、正山小种各具风味，在祖国大茶园里各美其美。咖啡或茶并非不可兼容，都能提神醒脑，都会苦尽回甘。美国是全球第三大茶叶进口国，中国咖啡消费者近4亿，再次证明不同文明可以在相互借鉴中交相辉映，共同促进人类各种文明之花竞相绽放。

Dear friends,

各位朋友，

Over 240 years ago, the American merchant ship “Empress of China” returned to the U.S. laden with Chinese tea, marking the start of trade between our two countries. Around 50 years ago, Chairman Mao Zedong gave President Richard Nixon the famous Da Hong Pao Oolong tea from the Wuyi Mountains as a welcome gift during the latter’s visit to China. A bond between Eastern and Western civilizations, tea offers China’s wisdom to solve the world’s problems through a peaceful path, and bears witness to the history of China and the U.S. ending estrangement and seeking win-win cooperation.

240多年前，美国商船“中国皇后号”满载中国茶回到美国，开启了中美历史上首次通商。50多年前，毛泽东主席将武夷山大红袍赠送给尼克松总统，在中美关系史上留下茶香印记。茶是中国为世界提供的一剂和合之方，是连接东西方文明的纽带桥梁，也见证了中美结束隔绝、合作共赢的历史进程。

Both history and reality have demonstrated that when China and the U.S. pursue mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, it will benefit not only our two countries, but also world peace and development. Neither a cold war nor a tariff war should be fought or could be won. Neither economic decoupling nor attempts to cut off people-to-people ties would find any support or ever succeed. Different countries and cultures need to pursue common development through mutual respect and seek common ground despite differences, so as to flourish together.

历史和现实昭示我们，中美相互尊重、和平共处、合作共赢，不仅有利于两国，也有利于世界和平与发展。不管是冷战还是关税战都打不得也打不赢，不管是经贸脱钩还是人文脱钩都不得人心也不会成功，不同国家、不同文明应当在彼此尊重中共同发展、在求同存异中合作共赢。

During the phone call with President Donald Trump yesterday, President Xi Jinping pointed out that recalibrating the direction of the giant ship of China-U.S. relations requires us to take the helm and set the right course. It is particularly important to steer clear of the various disturbances and disruptions. President Trump said that the U.S. and China working together can get a lot of great things done. The U.S. will honor the one-China policy, and it loves to have Chinese students coming to study in America. The two Presidents agreed that their teams should continue implementing the Geneva agreement and hold another round of meeting as soon as possible.

昨天，习近平主席应约同特朗普总统通电话。习近平主席指出，校  正中美关系这艘大船的航向，需要我们把好舵、定好向，尤其是排除各种干扰甚至破坏。特朗普总统表示，美中合作可以做成很多好事，美方将继续奉行一个中国政策，欢迎中国留学生来美学习。两国元首同意双方团队继续落实好日内瓦共识，尽快举行新一轮会谈。

The China-U.S. relationship is now at a critical juncture. It is our hope that the U.S. side will work with China in the same direction, follow through on the important consensus reached between the two Presidents during their phone calls, roll back erroneous moves taken against China, and create the necessary conditions for bringing the relationship back to the right track. I would also like to encourage every one of you and other friends with vision from both countries to speak up for reason, build more bridges of exchanges and cooperation, and play a positive role in promoting the steady, sound and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations.

当前中美关系处于关键历史节点。希望美方同中方相向而行，落实好两国元首通话达成的重要共识，撤销对中国实施的错误举措，为中美关系重返正轨创造必要条件。希望两国有识之士发出客观理性声音，搭建交流合作桥梁，为中美关系稳定健康可持续发展发挥积极作用。

Let us together enjoy this feast of tea and music, continue the dialogue between Eastern and Western civilizations, and find a right way for us to get along with each other in the new era.

让我们以茶为媒、以乐为桥，共品融汇东西的艺术盛宴，开启跨越时空的文明对话，一起走出新时期中美正确相处之道。

Thank you.

谢谢大家。