The 24th China International Alcoholic Drinks Expo is set to open on March 19 in Luzhou, Sichuan province, with more than 1,000 enterprises from nearly 50 countries and regions expected to put over 10,000 alcoholic products on display.
Sponsored by the China Alcoholic Drinks Association, the four-day event will cover a total exhibition area of over 80,000 square meters across 10 exhibition zones, with 51 separate activities scheduled.
On Friday, He Yong, secretary-general of the China Alcoholic Drinks Association, told a news conference in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, that this year's event will showcase the brewing techniques of the world's key production regions, while fostering cooperation and technical exchanges among them.
"The alcoholic drinks industry is undergoing a profound transformation driven by artificial intelligence, which is enhancing not only production efficiency but also quality control, marketing innovation and whole-chain management," he said.
A dedicated digital intelligence innovation zone at the expo will showcase mature AI applications in areas such as brewing process optimization, quality inspection, supply chain management and consumer profiling.
The goal is to foster digital intelligence technology exchange and, through the expo's demonstration effect, drive the digital intelligence transformation of the entire industry chain, He said.
In an effort to attract younger consumers and boost consumption, the expo will also roll out 18 integrated events that blend liquor, cultural tourism and commerce, he added.
As the guest country of honor, Thailand will set up a 500-square-meter national pavilion to showcase its signature alcoholic beverages and brewing culture.
Sake Nopthaisong, Thailand's consul general in Chengdu, said the pavilion will feature not only premium Thai alcoholic products but also energy drinks, Thai tea, fruit juices, coconut drinks and dried fruits.
Visitors will have the opportunity to sample Thailand's traditional alcoholic beverages, such as Sato — a fermented glutinous rice wine from the northeast of the country — along with spirits made from date palm and other local ingredients, Nopthaisong said.
The pavilion will also host meetings to connect importers, distributors, investors and industry professionals directly with Thai producers, he added.
Luzhou, the permanent host city of the expo, is home to China's largest baijiu industrial park and is recognized as one of the world's top 10 liquor-producing regions.
