China’s celebration of International Tea Day 2026 was held in Nanning, Guangxi, on May 21. Tao Huaiying of MARA, China’s Chief Veterinary Officer, attended the event and delivered remarks. 

Tao Huaiying noted that MARA is thoroughly studying and implementing the principles outlined in President Xi Jinping’s congratulatory letter on the first International Tea Day, with a focus on key areas including tea production and processing, brand development, and trade. China has worked to improve production, enhance processing capacity, strengthen brands, and boost consumption, while keeping trade channels open and facilitating the flow of tea products. China is also accelerating sustainable, standardized, and smart development of its tea industry, and is taking concrete measures to achieve high-quality growth. In 2025, China’s tea output reached 3.92 million tons. Furthermore, the pass rate for tea in random quality inspections has remained above 99% for several consecutive years. A total of 31 tea brands have also been included in the Premium Agricultural Brand Building Program, while new product types, including new tea drinks and tea-based foods, continue to emerge. In addition, Chinese tea is now exported to more than 140 countries and regions. 

Tao Huaiying stated that China, as the world’s largest tea producer and consumer, will continue promoting the coordinated development of the tea industry, tea culture, and tea technology. He said China seeks to deepen exchange and cooperation with countries around the world to support the sustainable and healthy development of the global tea industry. To that end, he set forth three proposals: First, push for mutual learning among cultures, deepen the significance of International Tea Day, create a platform for exchange and exhibition, and share China’s tea culture with the world. Second, advance industrial innovation through joint research in tea S&T, greater knowledge sharing, and continued modernization of the industry chain. Third, facilitate trade by fostering a fair and well-regulated global tea trading environment, and make high-quality tea products more accessible worldwide. 

Xu Xianhui, Vice Chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Government and CPPCC Guangxi Committee; Samantha Viddyarathna, Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure of Sri Lanka; and Qu Dongyu, FAO Director-General, delivered remarks. More than 300 domestic and foreign guests attended the event, including envoys of relevant countries, tea industry experts, and representatives of tea companies.