2021 International Tea Day observance in China
by Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
21/05/2021
International Tea Day 2021
21 May 2021
Video Message by FAO Director-General, Dr. QU Dongyu
Hangzhou, China
Excellencies,
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
1.I am pleased to address you today at the 2021 International Tea Day observance in China.
2.Celebrating tea is celebrating peace, culture and hope.
3.Today more than ever before, tea can play a leading role in our journey to build a better world.
4.Being one of the most important cash crops, tea production and processing contribute to multiple Sustainable Development Goals, such as the reduction of extreme poverty, the fight against hunger, the empowerment of women, and the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.
5.The International Tea Day celebration was inaugurated last year amid the global COVID-19 pandemic.
6.Back then, I welcomed Members’ innovative on-line celebrations, including the one in China marked by the congratulatory letter from His Excellency President Xi Jinping.
7.This year, I am pleased that a physical celebration is taking place in Hangzhou as a back-to-back event to the 4th China International Tea Expo and the 4th China International Tea Summit.
8.China has not only contributed to the wide spread of this beverage, but also leads the global tea industry development, with a robust export capacity.
Ladies and gentlemen,
9.The world’s per capita consumption of tea has increased by 3% over the last decade.
10.And global tea production is estimated at nearly 17 billion US dollars, with a trade valued at about 8 billion US dollars annually.
11.For many tea producing developing countries, tea export earnings are particularly important to cover their food import bills.
12.Tea empowers individuals and communities to achieve food security and improve their nutritional wellbeing.
13.The sector provides productive jobs and income to many of the poorest rural areas in the world, with smallholders being responsible for 60% of the global production.
14.Tea revenues are vital to reducing poverty and empowering women, while safeguarding ecosystems and biodiversity.
15.The market information collected by the FAO Intergovernmental Group on Tea shows a particular increase in demand for tea by the youth.
16.Tea, as a sought-after commodity, can therefore play a central role in wellbeing and recovery from the global pandemic.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
17.As the world economy starts to recover, FAO wishes to join hands with you to promote
18.better policies, further innovation, increased investments and greater inclusiveness in this important sector.
19.Together, let us build a more dynamic, productive and resilient tea sector for present and future generations.
20.I conclude by congratulating and thanking China for the well-organized observance of the second International Tea Day.
Thank you.