On May 13th, 2025, the Cultural Salon “A Life Called Yunnan”&“Tea for Harmony: Yaji” was held in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Member of the Standing Committee and Director-General of the Publicity Department, CPC Yunnan Provincial Committee, Zeng Yan attended the opening ceremony along with about 200 guests, including officials from Saudi Ministry of Culture, Saudi Tourism Authority and ambassadors from multiple countries. Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Saudi Arabia, Chang Hua, attended the ceremony and delivered a speech. The full text is as follows:

In September 2023, the World Heritage Convention was held in Riyadh, where the "Cultural Landscape of Old Tea Forests of the Jingmai Mountain in Pu'er" from Yunnan province of China was approved to be inscribed in World Heritage List and become China’s 57th World Heritage Site, presenting a unique cultural landscape of forest-tea symbiosis and human-environment harmony to the world. Today, we are gathering in Riyadh again to deeply experience the distinctive charm of Yunnan, known as “South of the Colorful Clouds.”

Yunnan has breathtaking scenery and abundant resources, featuring snow mountains, rainforests, highlands, and lakes. Every site in Yunnan is one poetic expression of nature and a gift from the Earth. Yunnan has ethnic unity and a harmonious society, which owns the largest number of ethnic minorities. Yunnan has great openness, inclusiveness, and numerous opportunities. From the "Southern Silk Road" more than 2,000 years ago to the "Belt and Road" nowadays, Yunnan has always been the close bond of economic and cultural exchanges between China and neighboring countries, and the vital center for China to promote high-level opening-up to South Asia and Southeast Asia.

In today’s salon, we have experienced Yunnan’s splendid culture and magnificent landscapes, and tasted China’s tea and coffee. However, it is just a small glimpse of colorful Yunnan. I deeply hope that everyone here could visit Yunnan, to experience the “beauty of nature, charm of culture, and flavor of cuisine,” and to enjoy yourselves in a kind of lifestyle known as “A Life Called Yunnan.”

At present, the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, and humanity stands at a crossroad in history. China remains committed to closely link its own future with that of people around the world, continue to expand high-level opening-up, and provide new opportunities for global development with the achievements of Chinese modernization. We advocate cultural exchanges transcend estrangement, mutual learning transcend clashes, and coexistence transcend feelings of superiority. For thousands of years, people around the world have got to know China through tea, appreciating its vastness and rich culture. Today, we continue to take tea as a medium of friendship, to enhance mutual trust, deepen friendly cooperation, and promote mutual learning among civilizations.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Saudi Arabia, as well as the first "China-Saudi Arabia Year of Culture". With the strategic guidance of our two countries' leaders, we look forward to work with Saudi Arabia to strengthen the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and Saudi Vision 2030, deepen practical cooperation in various fields including culture and tourism, further enhance mutual understanding and friendship between people in two countries, and always be the sincere partners to move forward and build a shared future.

Thank you.