President Michel Aoun met yesterday with the director general of the General Organization of Vineyards and Wine, Jean Marie Oran, on the head of a delegation visiting the country. Oran gave Aoun an overview of the activities by the Paris based organization founded in 1924 and embracing 46 wine producing countries. He explained its technical and scientific role and mission in setting high quality international standards for the production and processing of wine, in addition to the development of production and removal of obstacles impeding the exchange of expertise between member states and promoting a wine culture globally. Aoun in turn, welcomed the delegation reminding of the essential and ancient relation between Lebanon and wine, and underlining the importance of cooperation with the Organization, especially in the field of exchange of expertise. Increasing the quantity of production is fundamental for Lebanon at the present time, Aoun said, hoping his country will contribute to enhancing the quality of the product internationally. Oran recalled that Lebanon has been an active member in the organization since 1995, lauding the level of bilateral cooperation between the two sides. For his part, the general director of the ministry of agriculture, Louis Lahoud, revealed that China has opened its markets to receive Lebanese wine, disclosing that the ministry is coordinating with the Chinese embassy in Lebanon to market Lebanese wine. (Al Diyar, September 14, 2018)