An economic and trade research team from Hong Kong conducted a three-day trip to Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region from March 27 to 29, which was aimed at strengthening economic and trade exchanges and deepening practical cooperation between Hong Kong and Ningxia and helping make Ningxia a "wine capital of the world".

All members of the research team are well-known figures in Hong Kong's economic and trade circles. Leung Chun-ying, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and head of the research team, said he is fully confident in the future of Ningxia-Hong Kong cooperation when attending a seminar held after the research trip.

He noted that the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) proposed supporting Hong Kong in better integrating itself into the overall framework of national development and has pointed out the direction of development for Hong Kong, which is the fundamental basis for Hong Kong and Ningxia to deepen exchanges and cooperation.

Ningxia has many high-quality characteristic products, while Hong Kong has a broad market, talent and marketing advantages, as well as strong functions in facilitating international business and trade. The trip will help open more fields for economic and trade cooperation and expand personnel exchanges between the two regions, said Leung.

Leung said that Hong Kong should make good use of its function as an international wine trade center to actively contact with wineries in the eastern foothill areas of Helan Mountain, so as to help high-quality Ningxia wine products go abroad and gain a greater share of the global market through Hong Kong's branding, marketing, and promotional strength.

Hong Kong should be a "super contact" to deeply tap the consumption potential of Ningxia wine products, expand their brand influence and do a good job at introducing funds, technology, and talents, he stressed, adding that would ensure accurate and professional services and support for the high-quality development of the wine industry park at the eastern foothills of Helan Mountain.

In 2022, Ningxia saw an increase of 57,600 mu (3,840 hectares) of new land for the planting and development of wine grapes, with the total grape growing area reaching 583,000 mu, accounting for about 35 percent of the total growing areas in China. The region currently leads the country in terms of wine production, with its annual output hitting 138 million bottles, or nearly 40 percent of the total brewing volume of domestic wineries.

Wine exports from Ningxia have been expanding steadily, at an annual rate of around 30 percent in recent years. With a brand value of more than 30 billion yuan, "Helan Mountain East Foothill Wine" ranks ninth on the national list of products under geographical indication protection. The local wineries received over 1.35 million tourists last year, producing a comprehensive output value of 34.27 billion yuan, according to data from the Ningxia authorities.