Liquor maker inks deal with UK alliance

The United Kingdom’s Wine and Spirit Trade Association, known as the WSTA, has signed an agreement with China’s baijiu maker Kweichow Moutai Company with the aim of building a “strategic” cooperative partnership between Britain and China.

The deal, signed recently, will allow the WSTA and Moutai to identify opportunities to promote a “regular and open dialogue on matters of mutual interest”.

Moutai, a popular brand of baijiu, is distilled from locally grown high-quality sorghum in Guizhou province. It is often served at special occasions in China, from Chinese New Year dinners and wedding receptions to business banquets. It is also considered a luxury item and a popular gift.

Due to current land controls, the Chinese company is unable to produce more than 60,000 metric tons of its baijiu in the province per year.

As a result, Moutai is looking to finding opportunities to expand its operations outside China.

Moutai industry executives accompanied Shen Yiqin, the governor of Guizhou province, on a two-day visit to the UK to promote business links between the province and Britain.

The agreement was signed by WSTA Chief Executive Miles Beale and Yuan Renguo, chairman of the Kweichow Moutai Group.

tons