Guiyang, Oct 15 (IANS): In a bid to promote bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, culture and tourism, China's top alcohol brand Kweichow Moutai has signed an MoU with a visiting San Francisco government delegation.

Under the MoU signed on Saturday, Moutai will open an office in San Francisco to increase its sales in the city and further expand its market share in the US, said Kweichow Maotai Group chairman Yuan Renguo, Xinhua reported.

Edwin M. Lee, Mayor of San Francisco, said the MoU will further promote bilateral cultural exchange between future generations of China and the US.

In 1915, Maotai received its first gold metal at the Panama Pacific International Exposition held in San Francisco.

Maotai held an event on November 12, 2015, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of winning the award. At the celebration, Lee announced the day would be marked as San Francisco Moutai Day.

Distilled in the town of Maotai in southwest China's Guizhou Province, Moutai is considered the country's national liquor and often served on official occasions and at state banquets.