Her Excellency the First Lady Madam Emily Lalabalavu,

Madam Elina Jitoko, 

Ms. Han Xiaoyan, director of the China Cultural Center in Fiji,

Representatives of Fiji Nursing Association, the Chinese community, and the media,

Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends,

Good afternoon!

It gives me great pleasure to be here with you all at this Tea for Harmony Yaji Culture Salon, to taste different kinds of tea, experience Chinese culture, and celebrate the friendship between China and Fiji. Tea are leaves and women are flowers. In this sense, we are honored by the presence of the First Lady Madam Lalabalavu, Madam Jitoko, and so many women leaders from various fields, to present us a beautiful picture of flowers that stand out among tea leaves.

The theme of today’s event is Care for the family, Protect health. We hope that through this event, you will know better about Chinese tea and how to drink tea, to bring you health and joy.

Tea is a healthy way of life for the Chinese people. As you know, traditional Chinese medicine is world-renowned. But what you might not know is that tea was first used as medicine in China. Chinese ancestors explored traditional Chinese medicine through tasting herbs, and used tea to cleanse the toxins. Over thousands of years, tea has evolved into a healthy daily drink for the Chinese people. Chinese tea can be divided into six categories based on fermentation levels: green tea, yellow tea, dark tea, white tea, oolong tea, and black tea. Each offers different benefits. For example, green tea refreshes the mind, black tea warms the stomach, and oolong tea helps with digestion and reduces fat. Scientific studies show that drinking tea can lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases and mortality. Drinking four cups of tea a day reduces the risks of diabetes by 20%. Green tea is rich in antioxidants, and therefore helps delay aging and prevent cancer. As such, drinking tea is a simple way to improve our health.

Tea is a carrier of the Chinese culture. Tea embodies the values and morals of the Chinese people. The Chinese character for tea is a person amid plants and trees. This reflects the ideal of harmony between human and nature. The core of Chinese tea culture is harmony. This concept has rich meaning, which includes harmony between human and nature, peace among nations, cohesion of society, and kindness of people. As Ming Dynasty writer Chen Jiru wrote, tea is linked with harmony not just because of its mild flavor, but also because of everything about it, for example harmony between the utensils and the setting, the people and their friends, the way people think and the way nature works. Much like Fiji’s kava, Chinese tea plays a vital role in social functions and ceremonies. In the Chinese tradition, tea is served for guests, teachers, parents and so on in a respectful manner. This also showcases the Chinese virtue of humility.

Tea is a witness to China-Fiji Friendship. Tea originated in China and spread globally via the Silk Road, the Ancient Tea-Horse Road, and the Tea Route. As such, it became a bridge between civilizations. A Fijian friend told me that as early as the 19th century, Europeans started planting Chinese tea in Vanua Levu. This means Chinese tea took root here even before the Chinese people did. In modern times, Chinese people discovered the medicinal value of Fijian noni fruit, and made its leaves into tea. Noni tea became popular in both nations and was even gifted by Fiji government to foreign leaders. At the China International Import Expo, noni tea secured millions of dollars in orders. This story of turning green into gold exemplifies how China and Fiji work together to improve people’s lives. It also shows how tea continues to foster friendship between our peoples.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Both tea and kava are nature’s gifts to human beings that reminds us to cherish peace and enjoy our life. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. As Chinese President Xi Jinping put it, peace, like air and sunshine, is hardly noticed when we are benefiting from it, but none of us can live without it. In a world still troubled by conflicts, the simple act of sipping tea or sharing kava is precious. Both China and Fiji are peace-loving nations. Let us work together to advocate for world peace. May every cup of tea and kava nourish the seeds of peace of our countries and beyond.

This year also marks the 50th anniversary of China-Fiji diplomatic relations. Standing at this historic juncture, I believe that tea and kava will continue to join hands and bring a better future for our nations and peoples.

To conclude, I wish you all a delightful experience, and the event a full success!

Vinaka vakalevu!