President Xi Jinping learns about local efforts to develop the tea industry while visiting an eco-friendly tea garden in Nanping City, Fujian Province, March 22, 2021. (Photo: Xinhua)

President Xi Jinping on Monday visited a tea farm in the city of Wuyishan, East China's Fujian Province.

He learned about efforts to promote ecological progress, pass on traditional culture and develop the tea industry.

"In the past, the tea industry was a pillar in your fight against poverty and it should become a pillar industry of rural vitalization in the future," Xi said.

Xi, who worked in Fujian for over 17 years, has a special bond with Fujian tea and a deep connection with Fujian people. Here are three popular stories about Xi drinking tea with Fujian people.

Story one: He drank tea with no hesitation

In the 1980s when Xi was working in Xiamen as vice mayor of the city, he carried out many inspections at grassroots level and was warmly welcomed by the people.

On a tour of Tong’an district, he was invited to a farmer’s house to have tea. When served with a cup already brown inside from many uses over the years, Xi drank the tea without hesitation.

"Since the cup was so timeworn, many officials would refuse to use it, but Xi immediately drank the tea," a villager said.

By doing so, Xi was able to communicate with people in a candid way.　　

Story two: “I’ve drunk the tea. Our hearts are always together.”

In May 1990 when Xi was leaving the city of Ningde for Fuzhou, capital city of Fujian Province, he visited Tanyang Village to say goodbye to the people. “I wanted to spend more time in the village, but I didn’t expect to leave so soon,” he said to the villagers. “I’ve drunk the kung fu tea in Tanyang, so our connection will last forever. Our hearts are always together.”

Story three: First taste of Leicha tea

In April 1997 when Xi was deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China Fujian Provincial Committee, he inspected Changkou Village in Jiangle County. He was invited to drink Leicha, a grinding tea, and chatted with the people.

"He had hardly walked in when he started to ask about our daily lives,” said Qiu Caili, a villager who was there. "He told us to care about the community, be nice to our neighbors and teach our children well."

During the 2019 two sessions in Beijing when Xi participated in deliberations with National People’s Congress deputies from the Fujian delegation, Zhang Linshun recounted Xi’s visit.

Xi said, "It was the first time that I had Leicha. There were other ingredients like rice, sesame seeds, tea leaves, orange peels... Is that right?” Xi asked Zhang to pass on his greetings to the villagers including Qiu Caili.

“Fujian is my second hometown,” Xi said when he revisited Fujian in 2014. For 17 and a half years from 1985 to 2002, Xi worked in Xiamen, Ningde and Fuzhou in Fujian Province. He deeply engaged with everything there, including the tea and the people.

It is said this close engagement reflected his initial aspiration to serve the people and the founding mission of the Party to relentlessly enhance people’s well-being.

(Translated by Liu Tongshan, edited by Sun Tianren; Original story from Xinhua)