Benefits of tea celebrated at UN event

A Chinese envoy to the United Nations said that tea is a driving force for economic and social development, as it helps eliminate poverty, improve health and living standards, promote urban and rural development and enhance women's empowerment.

"Tea is a vivid embodiment of the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. Tea fields not only bring the joy of harvest to tea farmers but also form a sustainable ecological cycle by sequestering carbon, producing oxygen and conserving water and soil, perfectly interpreting the sustainable development concept of 'lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets'," said Dai Bing, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN.

He gave the speech at the International Tea Day event on Tuesday, organized by China's Mission to the UN and the Xinyang government of Henan province, at the UN headquarters in New York.