"With a history spanning thousands of years, tea culture is no longer merely a treasure of China, but a bridge connecting civilizations around the world," said Ivo Josipović, former President of Croatia, in Changsha on April 19, 2026. He noted that the concept of "harmony through tea" in Chinese tea culture embodies shared values of all humanity, and expressed his hope that the world would be as crystal-clear, transparent, harmonious, and inclusive as Chinese tea.

The 9th Oriental Civilization Summit Dialogue, co-hosted by the Mencius Foundation and others, was held in Changsha on the same day. When discussing the historical ties between Eastern and Western tea cultures, Josipović noted that tea was once a major driver of global trade, spreading to all corners of the world via routes such as the Silk Road and the Ancient Tea Horse Road. Russian tea-drinking traditions, Japanese tea ceremony culture, and Moroccan mint tea are all closely linked to Chinese tea culture.

The world now faces numerous challenges, with issues such as climate change, public health, and regional conflicts plaguing human society. Josipović believes that Chinese tea embodies Eastern wisdom regarding harmony, tranquility, joy, and genuine pleasure, offering a unique perspective on addressing global challenges.

The former president emphasized that Eastern and Western civilizations should not be engaged in a zero-sum game where one gains at the expense of the other. Instead, they should follow the principle of "sharing from a single pot," a concept found in the Chinese tea ceremony, mutually supporting and enriching one another toward common goals.

"As both a beverage and a cultural bond, tea allows family, friends, and business partners to express their feelings and convey their thoughts, giving rise to distinctive tea customs in different regions," said Josipović. He added that more cross-cultural exchange events centered on tea should be arranged, so that tea can become a new "universal language" connecting the East and the West.

责编：黄思婷

一审：黄思婷

二审：王柯沣

三审：秦慧英

来源：中新网