STORY: Foreign visitors impressed by wine expo in China's Ningxia
SHOOTING TIME: recent footage
DATELINE: Aug. 12, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:35
LOCATION: YINCHUAN, China
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Fourth China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): BAUDOUIN HAVAUX, Chairman of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): JOHN BARKER, Director general of the International Organization of Vine and Wine

STORYLINE:

The Fourth China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo was held from Aug. 9 to 11 in Yinchuan in China's Ningxia. The event drew wine experts, enthusiasts and enterprises from both home and abroad.

As China's largest wine-producing region, Ningxia now boasts 602,000 mu (about 40,133 hectares) of grape plantations and 261 wineries and grape-growing enterprises. In 2023, the region produced 140 million bottles of wine.

Situated near the 38th parallel north, Ningxia's wine-producing areas are similar in latitude to renowned wine regions such as Bordeaux. This ideal terroir features a dry climate and abundant sunshine.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): BAUDOUIN HAVAUX, Chairman of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles
"The wines are very, very, very good (and) international standard. In few years, the wines of Ningxia are in the international level. You can compare wine from Ningxia with wine from Bordeaux or from Tuscany or from California. If I have to make a summary of the wine of Ningxia, (I have) 3 points. First, desert climate, very dry. Second, the grape. The success of the Marselan here. And third, the specific taste of the wine from Ningxia is a little bit peppermint (with) also a light bitterness."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): JOHN BARKER, Director general of the International Organization of Vine and Wine
"The sustainability is one of the most important elements for the wine industry here in Ningxia and around the world. I think it's a responsibility for the producers and it's something that the market is increasingly demanding. I've been very impressed by some of the sustainability initiatives that I've seen here are a real commitment to replanting and the greening of the environment, which is extremely positive. And I think when we think about sustainability, we think about the wider social context as well. And in Ningxia, I think one of the important things about the development of the wine sector is providing jobs and providing economic development."

According to official data, Ningxia now attracts over 3 million visitors annually with 63 wineries that offer tourism services. The region's wine industry provides 130,000 local jobs and generates approximately 1.2 billion yuan in income each year.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Yinchuan, China.
(XHTV)