Chinese Mayor Advocates International Adaptation of Baijiu Products for Market Growth

During a recent interview held on Wednesday, Huang Wei, who serves as the mayor of Zunyi city in Guizhou province and as a deputy to China's National People's Congress, discussed opportunities for the baijiu (Chinese spirits) industry. He stressed that businesses within the sector should actively seek to understand and accommodate international tastes, developing spirits that appeal specifically to global consumer preferences.

Acknowledging the current challenging climate faced by the baijiu market, Huang suggested that producers carefully research consumption patterns and market needs abroad. In particular, he pointed to Southeast, South, and Central Asia as promising areas for expansion. To succeed in these regions, Huang proposed a shift in strategy, moving from a traditional emphasis on merely selling liquor towards a more lifestyle-oriented branding and market positioning.

Zunyi city, recognized across China for its high-quality baijiu brands, particularly the renowned Moutai, possesses notable expertise and production capabilities in this sector. Huang indicated that efforts would be made to innovate marketing approaches, capitalizing on recent policy adjustments such as Hong Kong's liquor tax revisions, to enhance both domestic and international market presence. Through these strategic shifts, he hopes the local baijiu industry will achieve an ambitious year-end production value exceeding 150 billion yuan (approximately $20.7 billion).