Former executives of top liquor brand under investigation

Two former senior executives of Kweichow Moutai Co Ltd, China's top liquor brand, are being investigated for suspected serious violations of discipline and law, the Guizhou provincial discipline inspection and supervisory authorities said on Tuesday in separate statements.

One of the executives is Zhang Jiaqi, former deputy general manager of the company, and the other is Li Mingcan, vice president of the Moutai Institute, according to the Guizhou provincial commission for discipline inspection of the Communist Party of China and the provincial supervisory commission.

Li served as deputy general manager of Kweichow Moutai Co Ltd between January 2017 and March 2020.

Moutai is a sorghum-based spirit produced by Kweichow Moutai, and is China's top brand of baijiu (white alcohol). The liquor, often served on official occasions and at state banquets, is considered a luxury item and has long been a popular gift.