Hon. Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister,

Distinguished guests, friends, ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening!

It is a great pleasure to gather here with all of you today. As we celebrate the 6th International Tea Day, let tea serve as a bridge that connects us across cultures and traditions. We are also honored to welcome talented artists from the Xizang Autonomous Region of China, a beautiful land known as the Snowy Plateau, who will present a series of captivating performances. Together, let us celebrate the enduring friendship between China and Sri Lanka, and open a new chapter in the exchange between our two civilizations. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka, I would like to extend a warm welcome and heartfelt thanks to all the distinguished guests present here today!

With tea as a bridge, let us appreciate the beauty of cultural integration.

China is the birthplace of tea, and its 5,000-year-old tea culture embodies the Eastern philosophy of “harmony without uniformity” and “beauty in shared diversity.” Since the Tang Dynasty, when Lu Yu authored the Classic of Tea in the 8th century, tea has journeyed from China to the rest of the world, becoming a bond connecting different civilizations. Today, the “Tea for Harmony” event is being celebrated across the globe. Through tea, we hope to share the values of peace, inclusiveness, and shared benefits.

Sri Lanka, an enchanting land known as the "Pearl of the Indian Ocean," is also world-renowned for its tea. Ceylon black tea, with its rich and mellow aroma, is not only a pillar of Sri Lanka’s economy but also a golden symbol of the nation. Though China and Sri Lanka are separated by mountains and seas, we are closely connected through the shared culture of tea. From the trade exchanges along the ancient Maritime Silk Road to the support of modern Chinese tea experts in advancing Sri Lanka’s tea industry, tea has long been a shared source of pride and a lasting testament to the friendship between our two countries.

With sincere hearts, let us jointly build a bridge of traditional friendship.

The friendship between China and Sri Lanka stretches back through centuries. Over 1,600 years ago, the eminent Chinese monk Faxian braved numerous hardships to travel to Sri Lanka to study Buddhist scriptures, creating a remarkable chapter in the history of Buddhist cultural exchange. More than 600 years ago, Admiral Zheng He led his fleet to Sri Lanka on multiple occasions, leaving a legacy of peaceful engagement and mutual respect. Today, as two important countries of the Global South, China and Sri Lanka always respect each other and march forward hand in hand.

Sri Lanka's steadfast adherence to the spirit of Theravada Buddhism resonates deeply with China's cultural tradition of "valuing harmony." Moreover, the philosophy of " Zen and tea share the same essence" allows us to experience a profound spiritual connection through the fragrance of tea.

Today’s Xizang cultural performance is a vivid reflection of the cultural exchange between China and Sri Lanka. Xizang is an important member of China's multi-ethnic family. Its unique culture and art are not only a treasure of Chinese civilization but also a valuable heritage of world civilization. We hope this performance will allow everyone to experience the rich diversity of Chinese culture and further bring the hearts of the peoples of our two countries closer together.

With harmony that promotes prosperity, let us jointly draw a picture of development and win-win cooperation.

Currently, China is comprehensively advancing Chinese  modernization through high-standard opening up and high-quality development. While Sri Lanka is also entering a new era on the path of national reconstruction. Our two countries have great potential in tea trade, tourism cooperation, and poverty reduction experiences sharing.

China is willing to deepen cooperation with Sri Lanka under the "Belt and Road Initiative" to promote technological innovation and market connectivity in the tea industry, thus allowing Ceylon black tea to spread its fragrance even further and Chinese tea culture to benefit more people. We firmly believe that tea is not only a commodity but also a bridge connecting hearts of people. Let us work together to build a China-Sri Lanka community with a shared future.

Dear friends, a cup of clear tea holds the essence of civilization, conveys friendship, and nurtures hope. Let us take the gathering today as a new starting point and continue to promote the spirit of "Tea for Harmony." May the friendship between China and Sri Lanka be as enduring and fragrant as Ceylon black tea and as vibrant as Chinese tea culture.

I wish all our distinguished guests good health, all the best, and a memorable and wonderful evening!