Liquor maker inks deal with UK alliance

The United Kingdom's Wine and Spirit Trade Association, known as the WSTA, has signed an agreement with China's baijiu maker Kweichow Moutai Company with the aim of building a "strategic" cooperative partnership between Britain and China.

The deal, signed recently, will allow the WSTA and Moutai to identify opportunities to promote a "regular and open dialogue on matters of mutual interest".

Moutai, a popular brand of baijiu, is distilled from locally grown high-quality sorghum in Guizhou province. It is often served at special occasions in China, from Chinese New Year dinners and wedding receptions to business banquets. It is also considered a luxury item and a popular gift.