Where Does Chinese Cuisine Rank in the World? The United Nations Has Spoken

From May 25 to June 2, with support from relevant United Nations agencies at its New York headquarters and the U.S. government in Washington, D.C., the event “Chinese Cuisine Enters the United Nations, Acclaimed in America,” co-hosted by the China Cuisine Association and Jinlongyu, a leading Chinese grain and oil brand, was grandly held in both Washington, D.C., and at the UN headquarters in New York. Whether in the U.S. capital or at the UN in New York, the demonstrations by representatives of China’s top chefs allowed guests to truly experience the profound depth of Chinese culinary culture and drew heartfelt praise. As UN Deputy Secretary-General Bettina Tucci Bartsiotas remarked, Chinese cuisine leads the world!

******△ ****** Remarks by Bettina Tucci Bartsiotas, Acting Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations

Working together to move forward

Chinese cuisine becomes one of China’s important symbols

******△ **Cui Tiankai, China’s Ambassador to the United States, delivered a speech at the Chinese Food Culture Tasting Dinner held at the Chinese Embassy in Washington

Chinese cuisine has a long history, giving rise to profound and diverse culinary customs, splendid banquet culture, and a dazzling array of flavors and styles. It is a treasure in the world’s culinary heritage and one of China’s most globally influential brands. However, it is undeniable that there is a lack of high-level large-scale events for a concentrated, systematic, comprehensive, and public showcase of Chinese cuisine to the world. There is also a shortage of authoritative activities to shape Chinese cuisine as a brand and promote it globally.

This event demonstrated that Chinese cuisine has an unparalleled advantage as a Chinese brand going global. It also provided practical experience for building Chinese brands and promoting them worldwide, while actively boosting the development of overseas Chinese restaurants.

On May 25, at the Chinese Food Culture Tasting Dinner held at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, Ambassador Cui Tiankai noted that Chinese food has been in the United States for over a hundred years. Many Americans first got to know China through Chinese food and fell in love with Chinese culture because of it. Chinese food is a window into China and its culture. In a sense, understanding Chinese food can help people better grasp how China views the world and international relations.

Taking on National Brand Responsibilities

Golden Dragon Fish Helps Promote Chinese Cuisine Worldwide

The “Chinese Cuisine Goes to the United Nations” event took place at UN headquarters on May 30, the Dragon Boat Festival. UN Deputy Secretary-General Bettina Tucci Bartsiotas learned to make zongzi on the spot, and live performances of fruit and vegetable carving and hand-pulled noodle skills allowed over 150 guests to appreciate the profound cultural connotations of Chinese cuisine.

******△ **** Ms. Bettina Tucci Bartsiotas, Acting Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Zhou Qiang, Brand Director of Yihai Kerry Food Marketing Co., Ltd., learn to make zongzi from a Chinese master.

Ms. Bettina Tucci Bartsiotas, while making zongzi alongside a renowned Chinese chef, learned that this is a tradition of the Dragon Boat Festival, a classic Chinese holiday. She found this delicacy to be truly special—the bamboo leaves, glutinous rice, and red dates all carry significance, reflecting Chinese culture and customs. Zhu Tianhe, Chairman of the American Chinese Cuisine Alliance, remarked, Chinese cuisine captivates the palates of foreigners, making it hard for them not to want to learn about China. The outcome of this event shows that using Chinese food as a medium can relatively easily build a bridge of communication between China and the world.

******△ **** Cox, the grandson of former U.S. President Nixon, wrapping zongzi under the guidance of a chef.

Both Spanish Ambassador to the UN, Juan Antonio Linnares, who participated in the Chinese cuisine event at the UN headquarters, and Cox, grandson of former U.S. President Nixon, agreed that it’s undeniable that Chinese cuisine is world-renowned. Chinese food is highly complex, with a wide variety, featuring many distinct culinary traditions and cooking methods that offer a rich dining experience to people worldwide. More people should learn about the depth and breadth of Chinese cuisine. This visit by top Chinese chefs to the UN is highly necessary.

Li Liyan, Chinese Cultural Counselor in New York, said that while there are many Chinese restaurants in New York, this event allows UN officials and people from all walks of life in the U.S. to see that Chinese food can reach such high standards, with such exquisite culinary skills, such beauty, and such cultural sophistication. Chinese cuisine should be showcased more often in the United States.

It is understood that Golden Dragon Fish, as a member of CCTV’s National Brand Plan, has been actively taking on the responsibility of promoting Chinese culinary culture worldwide, shouldering the mission of revitalizing national brands, and working tirelessly for the cultural heritage of Chinese food and its application for UN intangible cultural heritage status.

Looking at Golden Dragon Fish’s recent efforts to support China’s food heritage application, one can see that: In March 2015, Golden Dragon Fish assisted the Chinese Cuisine Association in entering UNESCO headquarters, embarking on the journey for Chinese food heritage recognition; in May 2015, Golden Dragon Fish signed agreements with master chefs from the Eight Great Cuisines in Yangzhou, uniting the power of these culinary traditions to support the heritage application and promote Chinese food culture; from 2015 to 2016, Golden Dragon Fish partnered with master chefs from various cuisines to host folk cooking competitions for Sichuan, Anhui, Zhejiang, and Shandong cuisines, encouraging and inspiring more home cooks to contribute to the preservation and development of local food cultures and cooking skills.

Supported by Quality

Golden Dragon Fish sets an example in enhancing the national image.

△ Masters preparing meals in the kitchen before service

Chinese cuisine, as a Chinese brand going global and gaining influence, is not only symbolic—serving as one of the most distinctive and personal national calling cards for China to spread its culture to the world, and helping Chinese cuisine play its proper role in enhancing China’s overall national image—but also has substantial significance. This requires that in the process of shaping and promoting this brand, the quality of Chinese dining be simultaneously improved, ensuring that people eat safely, with peace of mind, and healthily.

As China’s national strength grows, building globally influential brands has become a goal every business operator should strive for. Golden Arowana has set an example by helping bring Chinese cuisine to the United Nations.

******△ ****** Zhou Qiang, Brand Director of Yihai Kerry Food Marketing Co., Ltd., presents a symbolic golden dragon fish souvenir representing good luck and fortune to UN Assistant Secretary-General Stephen J. Cutts.

During this event, the chefs from the Chinese Famous Chefs Delegation made zongzi using Yihai Kerry’s Golden Dragon Fish glutinous rice, exquisite pastries with Golden Dragon Fish flour, and cooked Chinese cuisine using Golden Dragon Fish’s range of healthy cooking oils—all of which left the distinguished guests full of praise! Zhou Qiang, Deputy Head of the Chinese Famous Chefs Delegation and Brand Director of Yihai Kerry Food Marketing Co., Ltd., stated, “A brand is a key pathway for exporting a nation’s cultural soft power.” As a member of the CCTV National Brand Program, Golden Dragon Fish has been actively promoting Chinese cuisine on the global stage, consistently committed to producing the healthiest, safest, and most delicious small-packaged rice, flour, oil, and condiments. It is a company that shoulders social responsibility and accountability. This event also marks a significant step toward having Chinese cuisine recognized as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage, requiring the collective effort and solidarity of every Chinese person and every Chinese enterprise. We must make Chinese cuisine the most shining name card among China’s national brands.

If companies in other industries also adopt Golden Dragon Fish’s vision, relentless pursuit of quality, and willingness to invest and take concrete actions, a nationwide effort to build Chinese brands will emerge. This will surely lead to a qualitative leap in China’s product quality and an unprecedented enhancement of China’s image.

This article represents the author’s views only and does not reflect the stance of this publication.