More than 60 ambassadors from over 60 countries attend the KAREEM Global Tea Selection Conference, where ambassadors come to select tea and participate in the green tea special event
Video: KAREEM Global Tea Selection Conference • Ambassadors come to select tea • Green tea special event grand occasion
Video: Professor Shen Hong, a former National Tea Quality Supervision and Inspection Center professor level senior engineer, national first-class tea evaluator, and renowned West Lake Longjing tea expert, personally led the team for professional evaluation
Video: Congratulations from all walks of life at home and abroad on the Kalim Global Tea Selection Conference
On April 18, 2024, the "Kalim Global Tea Selection Conference • Ambassador's Tea Selection • Green Tea Special Session" event, jointly organized by the Overseas Chinese Tea Industry Development Research Foundation and WDEF Wodafu Digital Tea Industry Center, and supported by the Tea Research Institute of Zhejiang University, was grandly held at the China Hotel in Beijing. The meeting was chaired by Qian Yuhe, Secretary General of WDEF Wodafu.
More than 300 people attended the event, including Shao Shuguang, Chairman of the Overseas Chinese Tea Industry Development Research Foundation, Qin Yong, Founder and Executive Chairman of WDEF Wodafu, Executive Chairman of the China Arab Exchange Association, strategic planner of Kalim Tea Industry, tea industry experts and scholars, as well as Chinese and foreign news media and domestic green tea enterprises.
The event is themed "Chinese Green Tea, Fresh World" and invites more than 60 countries and nearly a hundred diplomatic envoys to China to participate. Through the form of "ambassadors come to choose tea", cultural exchanges are carried out to explore the path of high-quality development of Chinese tea culture in the world with international friends.
Green tea is the most representative main selling tea in China. It has a long history and rich cultural connotation. With its fresh, refreshing, rich and diverse flavor, and rich amino acids, tea polyphenols, vitamins and other nutrients, green tea has not only become an indispensable part of Chinese people's daily life, but also widely loved by people all over the world. With the increasing demand for a healthy lifestyle, more and more people are paying attention to and enjoying drinking green tea. China is the world's largest producer and exporter of green tea, accounting for about 80% of the world's green tea production and exports, firmly ranking first in the world. The "Kalim Global Tea Selection Conference • Ambassadors to Choose Tea • Green Tea Special Session" was held to enable envoys from all countries to personally participate in tea tasting, so that people around the world can fully feel the infinite charm of Chinese green tea that dare to be "fresh" for the world! Through tasting and selection, select the green tea that the ambassador likes to drink, so as to know what kind of Chinese green tea people around the world like to drink and what kind of Chinese green tea they need to drink, we can better let Chinese tea go to the world quickly!
Pakistan's Ambassador to China, Karel Hashmi, stated that the similarities between Pakistani and Chinese tea indicate a shared heritage. Tea has gone beyond being a simple beverage and has become a symbol of hospitality, friendship, and unity. Tea is not just a beverage, but also a tradition, a ritual, and a way of life.
From the peaceful tea gardens in China to the bustling streets of Pakistan, the aroma of freshly brewed tea evokes a borderless warmth, collective spirit, and solidarity. In Pakistan, brewing tea is affectionately referred to as the 'art of tea', full of traditional and symbolic meanings. It is a welcoming, respectful, and connecting gesture.
Whether we enjoy it with our family at home, share it with friends at local tea houses, or entertain distinguished guests, tea is a bond that tightly connects us together. In such an environment, we engage in meaningful conversations and maintain long-lasting relationships. The cultural significance of tea is not limited to beverages, it also serves as a bridge connecting different societies, promoting dialogue, understanding, and respect for each other's customs and traditions.
Today's Kalim Global Tea Selection Conference is a precious event that provides us with a common platform to share and celebrate our love for tea, exchange insights, explore opportunities for cooperation, exchange tea culture, and collaborate on research projects, all of which enrich our understanding of tea culture. It also paved the way for strengthening economic, social, and diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Bosnia and Herzegovina's Ambassador to China, Sinisa Bejan, stated that tea drinking culture is deeply rooted in tradition in Bosnia and Herzegovina. When it comes to Bosnia and Herzegovina, people often associate it with a very rich coffee culture. However, tea holds a special place in the hearts of black people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, whether in vibrant city streets or peaceful rural areas. Tea holds an unparalleled position in households, cafes, and social interactions.
As a foreign ambassador, I know that tea in China is not only a beverage, but also a symbol of a spirit. It contains profound historical and cultural connotations, which is why we are gathered together today to promote the essence of green tea and explore the rich connotations of tea culture.
Today, through the Kalim Global Tea Selection Conference, we will embark on a journey that transcends national borders. We will taste tea together and connect different cultures. Tea, as a beverage, has profound significance in cultures around the world, symbolizing hospitality, friendship, and unity.
Today, we participated in the Kalim Global Tea Selection Conference, where ambassadors came to select tea and green tea. We realized that protecting and promoting the diversity of tea culture is extremely urgent. Through this tea culture activity, we feel that we want to pay tribute to the art and skills infused into every cup of tea, and to the tea people who have dedicated their lives to perfecting this tradition. China's long history and love for tea have made it a leader in global tea culture. The complicated ceremonies and tea ceremonies related to Chinese tea show that Chinese people have a deep respect for nature and harmony. China deserves praise. China shares Chinese green tea with the world, promotes cultural exchanges, and strengthens further friendship.
Ge Ruohai, Deputy Director and Ambassador of the German Embassy in China, expressed his gratitude to the organizers of the Kalim Global Tea Selection Conference and the Ambassador's participation in the Tea Selection and Green Tea Special Session. He was honored and delighted to attend this conference, which marked a good start to the year.
When it comes to Germany, beer and coffee come to mind. In fact, we have a tea consumption of 5 million, which is far from enough compared to China. Many teas in Germany come from imports, such as tea imported from South Africa. Germany also likes black tea, and about 20% of Germans will choose black tea. However, the market for consuming green tea has not yet opened up, so we hope to cooperate with institutions related to Chinese green tea to better tap into the German and European markets.
Now is the right time, which can be said to be a great historical opportunity. We need to meet the consumer market, so green tea has broad development and consumption prospects. We hope to delve deeper into Chinese culture, understand Chinese tea culture, and elevate our tea consumption to a higher level.
During his speech, Shao Shuguang, Chairman of the Overseas Chinese Tea Industry Development Research Foundation, stated that China was the earliest country to discover and utilize tea, and also the country with the largest area and output in the world. Green tea is the most representative main selling tea in China, with a wide distribution of production areas, a variety of varieties, and excellent quality. Throughout the years, China's green tea industry has maintained a good development trend, with a steady increase in total production and sales. In 2023, China's green tea production has reached 1.9 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 2.5%, accounting for more than half of the total tea production in the country. China is also a major exporter of tea, with a tea export volume of 367500 tons and an export value of 1.739 billion US dollars in 2023. Green tea remains the main force in China's tea exports, with an export volume of 309400 tons and an export value of 1.18 billion US dollars.
For over 40 years since its establishment, the Overseas Chinese Tea Industry Development Research Foundation has consistently maintained exchanges and cooperation with overseas Chinese communities. In recent years, it has organized the China Australia Tea Culture Festival and Tea Expo in Sydney, Australia, and also hosted the "Bring Chinese Tea to Australia for the New Year" event. The 2023 China Australia Tea Expo has just ended the pandemic and will restart! In order to promote the international discourse power of Chinese tea, the Sydney Declaration on Chinese Tea has been issued for four consecutive years, expressing the voice of Chinese tea to the world. After several years of promotion, drinking Chinese "leaf tea" has initially formed an atmosphere in Australia, and Chinese green tea has also been favored by people in Australia and many traditional red tea drinking countries. Therefore, the position of Chinese green tea in the international market will not be shaken. Let's take advantage of the "the Belt and Road" initiative to promote the "globalization of Chinese tea" and work hand in hand with people around the world to realize the vision of "tea fragrance everywhere, tea and the world"!
Qin Yong, founder and executive chairman of WDEF Wodafu, executive chairman of China Arab Exchange Association, and strategic planner of Kalim Tea Industry, said in his speech that Kalim Tea Industry originated from my Arabic name "Kalim", which means "passionate and generous", "generous and noble", and "giving" in Arabic, with a simple but profound meaning. Since the launch of Kalim Tea Industry, as the strategic planner of Kalim Tea Industry, I have always emphasized that "Kalim does not belong to individuals, but to all practitioners of promoting Chinese tea culture", and have always emphasized that "Kalim does not grow tea, but is only a selector of the world's best tea". It will base itself on China, take root in China, go global, adhere to the mission oriented, international and brand oriented development strategy, take health, environmental protection and quality as the principle, carefully select good tea from all over the country and the world, actively share with people from all over the world, and gradually build it into a world famous tea brand.
Chinese green tea is also made in China, with a rich history, cultural heritage, and innovative new era brands. However, how to create an international market requires a new platform. The "Kalim Global Tea Selection Conference" is one of the nine major civil diplomacy initiatives launched by Kalim, closely relying on the core strategy of "Kalim does not grow tea, but is only a selector of the world's best tea". With civil diplomacy as a bridge, it provides a powerful and orderly "diplomatic level" tasting and promotion platform for Chinese green tea, allowing foreign diplomats in China to deeply understand the traditional craftsmanship and health quality of Chinese green tea, as well as the geographical features, cultural environment, and historical heritage of various parts of China. We believe that this is a good thing that the vast majority of Chinese tea producing areas and high-quality brands crave, as well as a practical measure to promote the development of regional productivity. It is also a pioneering move to promote the development of new quality productivity in the Chinese green tea industry.
Wang Jinzhen, former vice president of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said that it is very meaningful to hold the Kalim Global Tea Selection Conference with the theme of "Chinese Green Tea, Fresh World" during this season of spring. It is a great pleasure to see so many foreign diplomats and friends from all walks of life in China gather together to taste the freshness and aroma of Chinese green tea.
Nearly a hundred foreign diplomats attending the meeting today are all tasked with promoting exchanges and cooperation between China and their respective countries. We hope that Chinese tea companies can further engage in mutually beneficial cooperation with foreign diplomats and enterprises in China, and develop friendship between China and foreign countries.
The Kalim Global Tea Selection Conference has provided an extremely valuable platform for communication and cooperation between Chinese and global tea companies. We can not only showcase our products, but also learn from the experiences of other tea companies. I hope to promote Chinese green tea to the world stage through joint efforts.
Independent scholar and social commentator Sima Nan said that China has good tea, and good tea should be appreciated by people all over the world. So, the ambassador's selection of tea is essentially representing the people of the world in selecting tea. We have so many varieties and brands of tea that we don't want to see low price competition and other phenomena. Now, it's up to Kalim to outline and refine these tea brands, not making tea, only selecting tea, and providing good tea to people around the world. I see this as good, this model is good, and this method is good. I hope Kalim can make a name for himself in the world.
When it comes to issues of value, interests, and values, it is easy for us to have different ideas because we sit on different benches. However, I hope that all friends who participate in this global tea selection conference in Kalim, especially those who are foreign ambassadors to China, can find a completely consistent common language on drinking tea, Chinese good tea, and Chinese green tea. We not only need to find a common language in the taste of drinking Chinese tea and green tea, but also need to find a completely consistent common language in the issue of world peace!
In the roundtable dialogue session, domestic experts and scholars, as well as foreign diplomats and experts, discussed the theme of "How Chinese green tea can achieve globalization".
Yin Hanqing, Director of WDEF Wodafu Digital Tea Industry Center, said that holding the Kalim Global Tea Selection Conference today is very meaningful. The participation of ambassadors from various countries in China not only adds international recognition and honor to Chinese tea, but also builds a bridge for Chinese tea brands to go global.
Shen Hong, the former professor level senior engineer of the National Tea Quality Supervision and Inspection Center and the national first level tea appraiser, said that green tea is rich in catechu, L-theanine, vitamins, etc., which is a healthy drink. By taking the national "the Belt and Road" train, we will work together with people from all over the world to achieve "tea fragrance, tea and the world".
Shen Jiawen, member of the Standing Committee of the Changxing County Party Committee and Minister of the Propaganda Department, stated that Changxing Datang Gongcha Yuan is currently undergoing restoration on its original site. He hopes that through strong alliances with brands including Kalim and integration of brand channels, the benefits can be better realized.
An Mingxia, the editor in chief of the China Cooperation Times Tea Weekly, said that the dissemination of Chinese tea to the world is "cleverly taking advantage of the situation". Why do we say 'clever borrowing'? For events like today's Kalim Global Tea Selection Conference, the organizers are very dedicated. We are taking advantage of the capital's advantages to invite so many foreign ambassadors to China to taste and understand what a true Chinese tea is and what Chinese green tea is.
Karubankova, Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Zambia in China, said that I want to bring Chinese tea to Zambia and also share Chinese tea with many ambassadors from other countries. However, the vast majority of Chinese tea is in Chinese, which we cannot understand very well. Therefore, when promoting Chinese tea abroad, can we translate it into the corresponding language so that we have no barriers to understanding the connotation of Chinese tea? If Chinese tea wants to go abroad, we must understand that language is very important, because you need to benchmark the language of the country you export to!
Chief Economist of Egypt's Ministry of Industry and Foreign Trade, Hisham, stated that Egypt is also a country primarily engaged in trade. We all know that Chinese tea and green tea are renowned both domestically and internationally. Egyptian women also particularly enjoy Chinese green tea because it can eliminate free radicals and bring better health benefits to the body. So I really want to bring Chinese tea to the Middle East and Egypt.
As a highlight of the event, the "Ambassador to Choose Tea" attracted the attention of the attendees. The ambassadors of various countries in China carefully tasted and evaluated Chinese tea, which not only added an international recognition and honor to Chinese tea, but also built a bridge for Chinese tea to go global. This evaluation activity evaluated 19 tea companies from different tea producing areas across the country in terms of green tea cultivation, harvesting sources, processing techniques, packaging, taste, and other aspects.
At the meeting, the establishment ceremony of the Overseas Chinese Tea Industry Development Research Foundation and the Hecha Seed Global Transmission Activity Special Fund was also held. China is the birthplace of tea and has the world's oldest tea seed fossils. Tea seeds symbolize life, harmony, and prosperity. We hope to spread the "Hehe Tea Seed" among countries around the world, allowing for deeper exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations through tea! We are willing to build a friendship bridge for tea and promote Chinese good tea to the world through international cooperation. We also sincerely invite people from different countries, skin colors, cultures, and industries to participate in the global dissemination of "Hehe Tea Seeds"!
At the meeting, the procurement of Kalim Green Tea in Thailand was successfully signed. WDEF Vodafone Digital Tea Center signed project contracts with many subjects, such as China.com, the Belt and Road series theme funds, Datang tribute tea, Gongmeiji, Hangzhou Jia'ao Culture, Himart Cross border, Oriental Design Research Institute, Xueda Group, to jointly implement and develop new quality productivity.
At the Kalim Tea Culture Night, multiple action plans and honors were presented together. After the Tang Dynasty Tea House brought the Tang Dynasty Fried Tea Exhibition and the Song Qingling Youth Center Little Tea Artist Tea Art Performance, the Cross border Anchor Plan, "Brand Overseas Business Connect Global" Action Plan, Digital Tea Industry Strategy Plan, and Digital Paper Industry Development Plan were released here.
At the subsequent award ceremony, the presentation of multiple awards such as Unique Green Tea, Excellent Quality Green Tea, Innovative Leading Green Tea, and International Pioneer Brand further elevated the atmosphere of the event to a climax. The winners not only received honors, but also recognition and encouragement from both inside and outside the industry.
On the same day, a global promotion ceremony was also held for the co branded "Kalim Changxing Purple Bamboo Shoot Tea" and Kalim Longjing new products by Kalim and Datang Gongcha Institute.
With the promotion of the "the Belt and Road" initiative and the strengthening of global trade cooperation, Chinese tea enterprises can more easily enter the international market. In the future, the Overseas Chinese Tea Industry Development Research Foundation and Kalim Tea will continue to connect with the international tea market, so that international friends can appreciate the unique charm of Chinese tea culture and let Chinese tea culture go to the world.
It is reported that the Kalim Global Tea Selection Conference was held by Russia, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Morocco, Kenya, Algeria, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, Austria, Bahamas, Pakistan, Panama, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Burkina Faso, South Korea, Timor Leste, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Grenada, Georgia, Guyana, Kazakhstan, Montenegro, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Ghana, Cambodia, the Czech Republic, Cameroon, Lesotho, Rwanda, Malawi, Malaysia, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Moldova, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Japan, El Salvador, Serbia, Senegal, Seychelles, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Türkiye, Venezuela More than 60 countries including Brunei, Uzbekistan, Spain, Singapore, Jamaica, Armenia, Iran, Italy, Indonesia, Zambia, and Central Africa, along with nearly a hundred ambassadors to China, personally attended the conference or expressed warm congratulations in various ways. (End)
