MINSK, 1 June (BelTA) - China is prepared to work together with Belarus to preserve and promote tea culture, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Belarus Zhang Wenchuan said at the Tea for Harmony event in Minsk on 31 May, BelTA has learned.
"Peace and harmony are ideals that the Chinese nation has preserved and passed down for thousands of years. These remain the core values pursued by the Chinese people. China adheres to an independent and peaceful foreign policy, firmly follows the path of peaceful development, and promotes Chinese modernization," Ambassador Zhang Wenchuan stated.
Photos by Ramil Nasibulin
"The history of Chinese tea drinking spans three thousand years, while Chinese civilization itself has existed for over five millennia, making it the only continuously developing civilization in the world. The characters used by the Chinese five thousand years ago are still in use today, and festivals established centuries ago continue to be celebrated," the ambassador noted.
"What is the reason behind such resilience? It lies in the unique qualities of Chinese civilization: continuity, innovation, unity, inclusiveness, and peace. These qualities carry a genetic memory of harmonious development and peaceful coexistence among cultures," he stressed.
"Peace and harmony are ideals that the Chinese nation has preserved and passed down for thousands of years. These remain the core values pursued by the Chinese people. China adheres to an independent and peaceful foreign policy, firmly follows the path of peaceful development, and promotes Chinese modernization," Ambassador Zhang Wenchuan stated.
"China does not support the idea that a strong nation must inevitably seek hegemony. On the contrary, we firmly believe that hegemony inevitably leads to decline. In 2023, President Xi Jinping formally introduced the Global Civilization Initiative, which aims to promote respect for the diversity of civilizations, develop universal values, prioritize heritage and innovation in civilization development, and strengthen international humanitarian cooperation and exchanges. This initiative is deeply rooted in China's rich cultural traditions and is a sincere response to the modern global trend where countries seek progress and the development of civilizations while building a common future for humanity," the diplomat said.
"For our Belarusian friends, tea has long been a familiar and cherished beverage. Its history in Belarus dates back to the 17th century, when the first caravans carrying precious tea leaves arrived via the Great Tea Road. I have noticed that nowadays, Belarusians not only enjoy drinking tea but also take a keen interest in its culture and have a tradition of inviting guests for tea," the ambassador highlighted. "Tea has become a bridge for the mutual cultural enrichment of our peoples."
"We are all-weather and all-round strategic partners. China is ready to cooperate with Belarus to preserve and develop tea culture, write new chapters in the modern history of 'friendship through tea,' strengthen humanitarian ties, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation through tea culture and exchanges, drawing spiritual strength from it to build a common future for humanity," Ambassador Zhang Wenchuan concluded.
Photos by Ramil Nasibulin
Follow us on:
