China has become the most attractive wine exporting destination in the world. [Photo/IC]

China has become the most attractive wine exporting destination in the world, major wine exporters and professionals claimed at a seminar concluded in east China's Shandong province Tuesday.

Jorge Heine, Chile's ambassador to China, said Chile's wine exports to China had risen considerably in the last few years. "China surpassed the United States to become Chile's largest export market in 2014, and more than 200 wineries are now exporting products to China."

Wine exports from South Africa to China have also registered a sharp jump since 2013, according to Shao Wenjing, vice chairman of the South African Premium Wineries Association.

Reports say China is already the fourth-largest importer of wine in the world and growing. The number of Chinese drinkers purchasing imported wine rose from 19 million to 48 million in the period between 2011 and 2017.

In the first eight months of this year, China imported 474 million liters of wine, up 15.76 percent from a year ago. The total value of imports rose 8.78 percent to over 1.7 billion US dollars during the same period.

The International Organization of Vine and Wine said Chinese consumers drank 1.72 billion liters of wine in 2016 – a yearly increase of 6.9 percent, the highest in the world.

China is now the world's fifth largest consumer of the liquor and is expected to move up the ranks to No. 2 by 2020.

There are an estimated 38 million wine drinkers in the country. Ma Yong, secretary general of China National Food Industry Association said China had become a driving force in global wine consumption and the figure was expected to grow further with the improvement of Chinese living standards.

Sponsored by the China National Food Industry Association and China Alcoholic Drinks Association, the two-day seminar attracted nearly 200 professionals and representatives from major wine exporting markets, including France, Italy, the United States, Chile, South Africa and Australia.

Chinese are increasingly interested in buying wine for themselves rather than for others. [Photo/IC]