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Ningxia and Marlborough to sign ‘friendship city’ agreement

Marlborough in New Zealand is set to sign a “friendship city” agreement with China’s leading wine region Ningxia during its mayor’s official visit to China between 3-10 September, in a bid to boost wine-related cooperation between the two regions.

This comes after the two signed a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ in 2016.

The visiting delegation from Marlborough led by its mayor John Leggett will explore more ways to enhance cooperation with Ningxia on viticulture, winemaking, academic exchanges and wine education, reported Winesinfo.com.

China and New Zealand signed a Free Trade Agreement in 2008, and the latter was ranked as China’s 7th biggest wine importing country based on figures from the first half of the year.

The biggest wine producing region in New Zealand, Marlborough’s wine exports take up roughly 80% of the country’s total exports value, according to statistics from Wine Marlborough with 78% of vineyards under vine being planted with Sauvignon Blanc.

Ningxia in northwestern China, dubbed ‘China’s Bordeaux’, is located 800 kilometres away from the country’s capital Beijing and has 34,000 hectares of grapes compared with Marlborough’s 23,000ha.

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