On September 26th, the First China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo was held in Yinchuan with the theme of “Chinese Wine·a Specialty Surprising the World”. Chen Zhu, vice chairman of the NPC standing committee and chairman of the central committee of Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party, delivered the keynote speech. Chen Runer, secretary of the party committee of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and director of the standing committee of the regional people’s congress, gave a speech. Xian Hui, deputy secretary of the party committee of the autonomous region and chairman of the autonomous region, hosted the expo. Cui Bo, chairman of the CPPCC of the autonomous region, attended the expo. Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former French prime minister, and minister of Agriculture and Fisheries of Uruguay delivered speeches through the internet. Zhang Xu, vice minister of culture and tourism, Wu Hongbo, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on European Affairs, Li Xikui, vice chairman of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and Zhang Yuxiang, chairman of the Chinese Agri-product Marketing Association, gave speeches.
Chen Zhu said that holding China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo was an important mission given to Ningxia’s local government by the State Council and the CPC Central Committee. So far, this was the first national exhibition themed on wine in China. He said that the government should introduce Chinese wine and it’s culture to the world with the opportunity of building a national comprehensive development pilot zone of grape and wine industry in Ningxia. The authority should also stick to green development to let wine industry to be a part of a national strategy to protect the ecology of and to promote high-quality development of Yellow River basin, so as to establish a development structure with extended content, complementary function as well as connecting space composed of industry section, ecological section and tourism section.
Chen Runer said that they would remember general secretary Xi Jinping’s considerate instructions, so they would focus on the theme of the expo; saw offering service and being included into a new development structure as their responsibilities and missions; saw creating a famous “wine capital” as a goal; saw an opening and development comprehensive pilot zone for national grape and wine industry; made more use of the advantages of the wine production zone in Ningxia; enhanced opening and cooperation; enriched cultural content; promoted inclusive development; enhanced the reputation of geological brand and made wine industry into a “new engine” to support high-level development of Ningxia and a “new bridge” to push forward the interaction between Ningxia and the World.
Zhang Xu said in his speech that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism would work with Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region to create a wine brand for Ningxia. They would make full use of all channels including China culture center, office of travel agency in foreign countries, key tourism exhibition at home and abroad and brand events, so as to promote Ningxia’s brand “wine capital” to the outside world; to improve the brand effect and international influence of China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo; make Ningxia a tourism destination with distinctive international wine culture and to tell Ningxia’s wine story well to let it be introduced to the world.
The expo was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The expo was held with online and offline methods with the former as the main one. 6 major events and 20 brunch events were held in the opening ceremony and world wine conference.