On the morning, May 9th, the purchasers who came for 2018 Yichang International Tea Trade Fair visited southwest tea market of Hubei Province in Wufeng County, tasted and talked about tea with head of the tea companies in the field. (Reporter&photographer: Wu Yanling)

　　(Reporter: Gao Wei) On May 9th, Yichang was awarded as The Most Charming City for International Tea on the 2018 Yichang International Tea Trade Fair Awarding Ceremony. As deputy secretary of the CPC committee and mayor of Yichang, Zhang Jiasheng met with guests at home and abroad and delivered a speech. IAN GIBBS, chairman of the international tea committee, attended the event and conferred the award plaque.

　　On behalf of the CPC committee of Yichang and Yicahng government, Zhang Jiasheng gave a warm welcome to all the distinguished guests and expressed heartfelt thanks to friends who have cared about the economic and social development of Yichang. He said that the fragrance of Yichang tea can spread to whole world. Yichang hosted this international tea purchasing activity, hoping to make friends through tea, and boost economy through tea. After this event, Yichang tea and more high quality agricultural products will be exported to global markets, in return, more and more friends, no matter in China or at abroad, will know China and love Yichang. We hope that the new and old friends here will continue to support Yichang, bringing fruitful results through the platform of tea with practical cooperation.

　　At the opening speech, Zhang Jiasheng mentioned that Yichang, which is rich in producing oranges and tea, is home to Yihong Tea, one of three traditional Chinese black teas. Known as an important tea city, Yichang is one of the origin areas of tea in the world. Guided by the idea that “lucid water and lush mountains are invaluable assets,” Yichang attaches great importance to improving the quality of green tea, raising the reputation of black tea and promoting the development of dark green tea, so as to achieve the international industrial green development featuring industrialization, standardization and branding. Zhang Jiasheng is confident that the cooperation of Yichang with Republic of Kyrgyzstan and Russia will be going on in more sectors at a deeper level as amid a booming economy and an improving level of opening in this city. Tea, an iconic product in the ancient Silk Road, will contribute more to the construction of One Belt and One Road.

　　Ian Gibbs, Maksat Chandimishev, Consul General for the Republic of Kyrgyzstan at Guangzhou, Lamaz Chanturia, president of Russian Tea and Coffee Association, Yu Lu, vice chairman of Chinese Domestic Animal Import and Export Chamber of Commerce, Huang Mouhong, deputy director of the Provincial Department of Commerce, Gao Fan, vice general manager of China-Europe International Logistics Co., Ltd., made speeches respectively. They agreed that Yichang boasts beautiful mountains and rivers, has a rich cultural background, as well as a tea city, so they all wanted to enhance the communication and cooperation, to be the “ambassadors” of Yichang, to facilitate the great development of tea industry and to promote the communication of tea culture.

　　Ian Gibbs conferred the titles “The Most Charming City for International Tea ”, “Yichang Black Tea”, “Classic Black Tea of the World” upon Yichang, “International Town for Tea Trip” upon Dengcun village in Yiling District, and “International Ancient Town for Tea Trip” upon Yu Yangguan Town in Wufeng County.

　　The merchants attending this year's "Yichang International Tea Trade Fair" are all from countries along the "One Belt and One Road" countries. On the basis of the field visits and the two sides' negotiations, some tea companies in Yichang have already signed agreements with Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Malaysia, Vietnam, for 8,080 tons tea and a total value of 100.1 million dollars.

　　City leaders, Zhou Qing, Zhou Zhengying, Liu Hongfu and Ma Hongyan participated in the activities.