The visit of the Ningxia delegation to Dijon on March 13, 2024 was the occasion of a very warm first meeting between John Barker, Director General of the OIV and Wang Li, Vice-Governor of the Ningxia Autonomous Region.
During a morning of discussions and exchanges, the importance of scientific cooperation between the OIV and Ningxia, an observer member of the OIV since 2012, was highlighted. Located in the geographic center of China, Ningxia is China's smallest province with a population of 7 million, and has put quality viticulture and wine tourism at the heart of its development since the first vines were planted 40 years ago.
Wang Li shared his vision and his desire to spread the culture of wine as widely as possible among Chinese consumers. Today accounting for 40% of national production, Ningxia has been designated by the Chinese government as a "Pilot Area for the National Agricultural Sustainable Development ". As such, Ningxia is a driving force in adopting of new production technologies. In 2023, OIV scientific representatives attended the International Conference on Grape and Wine Industries in Yinchuan, a scientific forum which will be repeated in August 2024.
John Barker welcomed this enhanced cooperation in an important year for the OIV - its centenary and the International Year of Vine and Wine.