During Dec. 15th to 19th, 2016, on the invitation of Li Rongfu, the Chief of Boseong County in Jeollanam-do, and Li Zhenxiu, the President of the International Tea Club, 30 teachers and students from Tea Science Department, Zhejiang University paid a visit to Boseong to attend the International Tea Symposium. Prof. Tu, the dean of Tea Science Department, was present at the conference and participated in the awarding ceremony as the image ambassador of Boseong. The five-day visit has witnessed a breakthrough in the area of tea culture, tea science and relevant management among Chinese, Korean and Japanese, as well as highlighted the tremendous influence of Tea Science Department of Zhejiang University internationally.
The 78th Boseong International Tea Symposium was open on Dec. 16th, 2016 with a courtesy and lively speech of Mr. Li. Experts and scholars from China, South Korea and Japan gave reports on the development of tea garden management, the great innovation of the tea industry and the successful experience of the exploitation of tea products. The booming development and the latest achievements of tea academia excited all the participants. Mrs. Zhou, a researcher from Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, analyzed the present situation and the characteristics of the tea industry during the past decade in China. The latest data brought by the report provided some reference for the development of tea industry in the future. Dr. Tu conducted the research progress of lipid-lowering effect of black tea. Four graduate students, Zhang Dan, Shen Xian, Jiang Xuanxu and Zhou Ying also brought their latest results respectively. Although it was the first time for them to participate in an international symposium, their professionalism embodied the spirits of Zhejiang University. Postdoctor Eunhye Kim’s excellent translation greatly ignited the vigor in the communication between the two countries.
After the meeting, in the annual light show, Dr. Tu accepted the appointment letter from Mr. Li, and became the first foreign ambassador of Boseong. The appointment not only affirmed Dr. Tu's contribution to the tea community, but also acted as an important step to the development of the Tea Science Department of Zhejiang University.
During the last two days, teachers and students of Zhejiang University visited tea enterprises in Boseong to learn about the current tea management situation in China and Korea, tea cultivation and management mode in Korea. They also visited the history and culture pavilion of Green Tea in Boseong. They experienced Korean tea ceremony in the only Korean national tea museum--Boseong Korean Tea Museum. Students performed a well-prepared Chinese-style dance and tea ceremony, which won the praise of the scholars from Japan and Korea.
A farewell tea party was held by Busan Tea Culture Research Association. The cooperation between Wonkwang University and Zhejiang University will be strengthened. Meanwhile, tea culture and academic exchanges between China and Korea will be pushed to a new level.
