Implementing the Global Development Initiative for a Better Shared Future Speech by Ding Xiongjun, Chairman of Moutai Group, at the APEC CEO Summit

On the morning of November 17, the opening ceremony of APEC CEO Summit 2022 was held in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, with a speech by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha. Mr. Ding Xiongjun, Chairman of Moutai Group and Chairman of Kweichow Moutai Distillery (Group) Co., Ltd., delivered a speech in English entitled “Implementing the Global Development Initiative for a Better Shared Future”.

In a brief introduction to Moutai’s Asia-Pacific and global markets, Mr. Ding Xiongjun mentioned that Moutai, the world’s most famous distiller, has a current market value of nearly $300 billion. Since 1953, Moutai has promoted its products to 64 countries and regions, with the Asia-Pacific region as its main market.

In the face of new great changes in the world, he advocated promoting the global development initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Starting from Moutai’s experience and practice in development, he summarized five key words or five lines for the future development of trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region

First, the growth-oriented “blue line”. The development of the enterprise depends on the simultaneous improvement of output and quality. Adhering to the principle of quality first, Kweichow Moutai scientifically expands its production capacity in the beautiful core production area by the Chishui River, and develops markets worldwide.

Second, the sustainability-oriented “green line”. Attaching great importance to ESG theory, Kweichow Moutai has protected the Chishui River for 10 consecutive years and provided more than RMB 1.1 billion in financial aid to over 210 thousand students for 11 consecutive years. The community of shared live for ” mountains, water, forests, soil, rivers and microorganisms” under construction is expected to maintain a sustainable brewing environment for Moutai.

Third, the innovation-oriented “white line”. White symbolizes infinite possibilities. Moutai represents China’s traditional brewing techniques. With modern science and technology to decode the mysterious gene of Moutai, it uses digitalization to connect products and markets, virtual world and reality, domestic and overseas customers, and build a phenomenal APP. Moutai ice cream is the latest craze all over China.

Fourth, the culture-oriented “purple line”. The purple line, as the protection line of cultural relics in the architectural planning, symbolizes culture. The thousand-year-old Moutai culture is the epitome of Chinese liquor culture. Moutai, which won the gold medal at the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition and witnessed the Red Army’s four crossings of Chishui River in 1935, witnessed many historical moments of Sino-foreign friendship after the founding of New China.

Fifth, the security-oriented “red line”. With the security of industrial chain and supply chain as the core, Moutai has enhanced the resilience of the two chains and maintained sustained and steady development by strengthening comprehensive risk management and building a community for trading partners with shared interest, emotion and future.

Mr. Ding Xiongjun conveyed Moutai’s vision of building a better world together with industrial and commercial enterprises in the Asia-Pacific region on the basis of openness and cooperation.

He then had a panel discussion with Amb. Tomochia Uyama, Senior Advisor to the Director General of World Trade Organization, Mr. John W.H. Denton, Secretary General, International Chamber of Commerce, and Mr. Yol Phokasub, Chief Executive Officer Central Retail Corporation. President Nguyen Xuan Phuc of Vietnam made a keynote speech.

During the panel discussion, Mr. Ding Xiongjun further introduced the experience and understanding accumulated in the development of Moutai Group. Faced with such challenges as the uncertain world economic situation and the increasing adverse factors, Moutai still maintains a high double-digit growth rate, which is attributed to its improved product quality and services, expanded markets and successful cost reduction and efficiency increase. He stressed the importance of development and openness to economic exchanges in the Asia-Pacific region and called for joint efforts to create a fair, inclusive and open business environment in the region.

With the concept of “Embrace Engage Enable”, APEC CEO Summit 2022 focuses on regional economic recovery, cooperation between societies, regions and people, improvement of trade and investment environment, sharing of innovative achievements, and common development.

APEC is the highest-level, broadest and most influential economic and trade cooperation mechanism in the Asia-Pacific region. The APEC CEO Summit is one of the most influential meetings in the APEC calendar.