Zhao Yongqing, executive vice-chairman of the Ningxia Hui autonomous region, spoke at the press conference. [Photo provided to China Daily]

On Wednesday, a press conference was held in Beijing to announce the First China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo will be held in Yinchuan city, Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region, from Sept 25-27.

Organized by the people's government of Ningxia Hui autonomous region, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the expo aims to enhance communication and cooperation between the main wine-producing countries and wine-producing areas in China, and promote the development of this industry.

Expo activities include a forum about wine culture, a concert, wine display and trade fair.

Ningxia has a history of planting grapes and making wine. It now has an area of 37,000 hectares for planting grapes, accounting for a quarter of China's capacity. The 211 wineries can produce 130 million bottles of wine every year, according to Zhao Yongqing, executive vice-chairman of the Ningxia Hui autonomous region.

Due to the influence of COVID-19, the expo will be held both online and offline. People can see the wineries and choose wine on the internet.

"Although we cannot invite many foreign wine, cultural and tourist enterprises to take part in the activities in China, we still join hands with them and have the confidence to hold a successful expo," said Zhang Xilong, deputy director of the Bureau of International Exchange and Cooperation of Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China.