RABAT - (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Tuesday inscribed " Traditional Tea Processing Techniques and Associated Social Practices in China " on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The decision was announced during the 17th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO, which was held in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, from November 28 to December 3.

After the decision to include this intangible cultural heritage in the list, the head of the Chinese delegation participating in the session, Wang Yongjian, said that it is an important achievement for international exchanges and cooperation in the field of culture, and will help enhance the visibility of intangible cultural heritage, as well as awareness and respect for cultural diversity and human creativity.

He added that China will continue to earnestly implement the Convention on the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage and introduce more intangible cultural heritage projects with Chinese characteristics that embody the Chinese spirit and contain Chinese wisdom.

Traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices in China consist of knowledge, skills, and practices related to managing tea plantations, tea leaf picking, manual processing, and tea drinking and sharing.

And tea is ubiquitous in the daily life of the Chinese people. Steeped or boiled tea is served in family homes, workplaces, teahouses, restaurants and temples. It is an important means of communication in socialization and celebrations.

Based on natural conditions and local customs, tea producers in China have developed six categories of green, yellow, dark, white, oolong and black teas, as well as re-processed teas such as flower-scented teas.

It is noteworthy that China has 43 intangible cultural heritage items on the list after the new listing, ranking first in the world.

And in December 2019, the United Nations General Assembly agreed in a resolution to designate May 21 as International Tea Day.

On October 17, 2003, the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was adopted to protect the world's intangible cultural heritage.

The agreement aims to protect the knowledge and expertise necessary for traditional crafts, as well as cultural practices passed down from generation to generation, such as oral traditions, performance arts, social practices, as well as knowledge and practices related to nature.