Marking another milestone under the collaboration among the Uva Wellassa University (UWU), the Go Study Global Education, P. R. China (GSGE), and the Guangxi Vocational & Technical College, P. R. China (GVTC), Prof. H.M.S.K. Herath, Dean, Faculty of Animal Science and Export Agriculture, and Dr. G.A.A.R. Perera, Senior Lecturer (Gr. II), Department of Food Science and Technology, attended to the ‘2023 China – ASEAN Tea Industry Vocational Education Cooperation Forum’ which was held from 14th to 17th September 2023 in Nanning, Guangxi, P. R. China. This forum was hosted by the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous, P.R. China and it was jointly organized by the Department of Education of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, P.R. China, the GSGE, and the GVTC.

In this forum, Dr. G.A.A.R. Perera delivered a keynote speech on ‘Sri Lankan Tea Industry: Current Status, Challenges and Future Directions’ on 15th September 2023. A panel discussion was held on 16th September 2023 to discuss about future cooperation among the collaborators. Attending to this discussion, Prof. H.M.S.K. Herath elaborated about the potential of expanding and strengthening cooperation in education, research and cultural exchange among the parties. In this respect, the organizers promised to work hard to connect more institutions with UWU.

We also had opportunities to see an industrial exhibition organized by the GVTC and to participate in a tea tasting session. Further, a visit was arranged to see a jasmine garden, a jasmine tea factory and the tea manufacturing facility of the GVTC.

We wish to extend our gratitude to the organizers of this event for inviting two representatives from UWU to attend this forum and for sponsoring the visit to China.