The first International Tea Expo was launched on May 18 in Zhejiang province's capital city and has attracted tea vendors and companies from all over the world.

This inaugural tea expo is being held across four pavilions in the Hangzhou International Expo Center, the same venue that hosted the G20 Summit. Over 1,000 enterprises from more than 30 countries are participating in the expo.

The expo, from May 18 to 21, is organized by the ministry and Zhejiang Government.

President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter May 18 to be read at the opening ceremony, extending his hope that the expo would give exposure to Chinese tea culture, and that the event would grow into an important platform for exchanges and cooperation between China and the rest of the world.

The letter also included a call for the expo to promote both the tea industry and tea culture.

This inaugural tea expo is held across four pavilions in the Hangzhou International Expo Center, the same venue that hosted the G20 Summit. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]