At 10 a.m. on October 16, the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China opened at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where the General Secretary delivered a report to the congress on behalf of the 19th Central Committee. The congress comprehensively summarized the major achievements and valuable experience gained in China’s reform and development, fully grasped the new requirements for the development of the Party and country’s cause on the new journey of the new era and the new expectations of the people, and set out a program of action and major policies.
Since the opening, Pu’er’s tea youth have been witnessing the grand occasion of the 20th Congress in their own ways. We deeply understand that the flourishing of the tea industry is the foundation on which the broad masses of tea farmers escape poverty, achieve prosperity, and develop for the long term — and this requires more young people to devote themselves to it, contributing their wisdom and passion. Recently, we visited several young people from Pu’er working on the front line of the tea industry and invited them to share with us how they spent the opening day.
Pu’er’s young people in the days of the 20th Congress
Longsheng Tea Industry: Zhu Guangmei
That day, after watching the live broadcast, Zhu Guangmei threw herself into warehouse inspection work.
Speaking of the grand occasion of the congress she witnessed that day, she said: “The parts of the report about strengthening culture, reinforcing the inheritance of Chinese civilization, and reaching out to the world touched me deeply. When I was abroad, I felt how we Chinese students promoted exchanges between different cultures very well, so that people could learn about China and our traditional culture more directly from us, breaking some of their original preconceptions. In addition, green development is a theme closely tied to our tea industry, which further strengthened our determination to keep doing green production and green consumption well and to safeguard Pu’er’s green tea gardens. I hope that in the future we can tell the stories of tea growing and tea making well and bring them to the world stage.”
Inheritor of Pu’er Tribute Tea Making: Li Mingze
That day, Li Mingze, an inheritor of the tribute tea craft, threw himself into tea-making work after watching the live broadcast.
Speaking of the grand occasion of the congress he witnessed that day, he said: “The convening of the congress set clear requirements for our country to pass on fine traditional Chinese culture and crafts. As an inheritor of Pu’er tea making and the tribute tea craft, I will always practice the original aspiration and mission of a tribute tea craft inheritor, starting from the smallest things. While inheriting fine traditional Chinese tea culture well, I will carry forward the tribute tea craft and use the craft to help the revitalization and development of rural tea enterprises, contributing my own strength to the inheritance of the tribute tea craft and the revitalization of the rural tea industry.”
Pu’er Zuxiang High Mountain Tea Garden Co., Ltd.: Zhang Yubin
That day, Zhang Yubin watched the 20th Party Congress together with his colleagues.
He said: “As a young man from a border region devoted to the Pu’er tea industry, we will always remember the General Secretary’s message and encouragement, inherit and carry forward the May Fourth spirit, strengthen our ideals and convictions, stand firm on the people’s position, hone solid skills in tea industry enterprises, and contribute our strength on the new Long March toward realizing the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. With the urgency that time waits for no one, we will devote ourselves to the development of the Pu’er tea industry, strive to promote Pu’er’s high-quality development, and work hard to write the vivid practice of the Pu’er chapter of the Chinese Dream.”
Boiling Water over the Fire Pit: Xu Yanting
That day, Xu Yanting watched the live broadcast of the congress together with her staff and held a study and sharing session.
She said: “The report the General Secretary delivered at the congress is inspiring and stirring. The report mentioned that we must firmly grasp the issues the people care about most — the most direct and the most practical — which points out the way forward for our future work. We will insist on taking the people’s concerns and concrete matters of people’s livelihood as our top priority, and with heart, with feeling, and with effort, we will integrate and develop Pu’er City’s tea industry well together with Pu’er’s local ethnic cultures, striving to make the ethnic Pu’er tea ‘Boiling Water over the Fire Pit’ a Pu’er tea of Pu’er people’s own.”
Stories of the Fragrant Land: Wang Junwen
That day, Wang Junwen watched the live broadcast of the congress together with her colleagues.
She said: “As a young person, after watching the 20th Congress I am even more convinced that we must unswervingly listen to the Party and follow the Party, cherishing dreams while keeping our feet on the ground, so that the youth of our young generation shines in the practice of comprehensively building a modern socialist country. As an entrepreneur striving to grow in the tea industry, I will closely follow the Party’s direction and contribute my own strength to comprehensively advancing rural revitalization.”
No-Bitterness Teahouse: Yang Yanrui
That day, Yang Yanrui listened to the live broadcast of the 20th Congress.
She said: “As a generation of the twentieth century and as Pu’er tea youth, we have witnessed the tremendous changes in our country, especially this year’s deepening of reform and opening-up and rural revitalization. As young people of the new era, we are very proud. In the future, we will be diligent and steadfast, shoulder the mission and responsibility entrusted to us by history with sweat and passion, work hard with our heads down, boldly take sonorous steps in starting and advancing our undertakings, and continue to contribute our share of strength to the development of the tea industry.”
Boundless Innovation: Wang Junjie
On the day the congress opened, Wang Junjie threw himself into livestream e-commerce sales work after watching the live broadcast.
He said: “In the new era, the environment is more open and inclusive — the e-commerce environment, for example. While providing a platform for us young entrepreneurs, it also brings encouragement. On the new journey, we will continue to work hard and keep doing our own business well, continue contributing our strength to spreading Pu’er tea culture, spread confidence in tea culture through new media and new ways, and contribute our strength to helping Pu’er tea go further and better.”
Pu’er Impression Hani Hong Industrial Development Co., Ltd.: Yue Junbing
That day, after watching the live broadcast, she threw herself into studying Song-style dian cha (whisked tea).
She said: “On the opening day, I studied in depth the spirit of the reports related to the 20th Congress. As a young person in the Pu’er tea industry, we deeply understand the importance of inheriting Chinese tea culture and the important mission of ‘advancing cultural confidence and self-improvement to create new glories for socialist culture.’ Therefore, as tea youth of the new era, we will respond to the Party’s call more actively and strive to learn and pass on traditional tea culture.”
Yunnan Yuncha Vocational Skills Training School: Gao Yuanzu
That day, Gao Yuanzu was watching the live broadcast at home.
He said: “The convening of the 20th Party Congress fills my heart with pride and a sense of mission! Under the Party’s correct leadership, the great feat of completing the first centenary goal has been accomplished; I deeply feel the strength of our country and look forward even more to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation! At the same time, I hope that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, we will comprehensively build a modern socialist power, achieve the second centenary goal, and comprehensively advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-style modernization! Forge ahead with determination, break new ground, stride together onto the new journey, and join hands toward the future.”
Gao Family Manor, Nakaoli: Gao Shixing
That day, after watching the live broadcast, Gao Shixing threw himself into his daily tea-making work.
He said: “As young people of the new era, we face different challenges, but it is precisely these challenges that spur us forward. As a young tea maker from an ethnic minority, I hope to improve my craft, my learning ability, and my thinking ability, and with a solid theoretical foundation and exquisite craftsmanship, inherit and carry forward Pu’er tea culture and tea-making skills.”
During the 20th Congress, although everyone was in a different state, they all firmly expressed that “youth is in its prime, and striving is the future.” Guided by the spirit of the 20th Party Congress, they will bravely shoulder their historical mission, forge ahead with determination, actively respond to challenges, demonstrate new deeds and new thinking on the new journey of the new era, strive hard, and contribute their strength to Pu’er’s tea industry.
Text / Rao Li,
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Author: Lam Sam (LamSam), the Old Tea Head
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