Hohhot, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, was named the "World Dairy Capital" at the 2026 World Dairy Industry Conference, which kicked off in the city on Saturday to chart a course for sustainable growth in the sector.

Co-hosted by dairy giants Yili Group and Mengniu Group, the conference gathered leaders of international industry associations, academicians, and top executives from global dairy chains.

At the opening ceremony, Pavinee Chinachoti, executive director of the International Union of Food Science and Technology, presented the "World Dairy Capital" plaque to He Haidong, mayor of Hohhot.

The designation marks a milestone for Hohhot, which has spent more than two decades upgrading its dairy credentials — from China's Dairy Capital in 2005 to World Dairy Technology Hub and China's Dairy Breeding Capital in 2023, and now to the globally recognized "World Dairy Capital" in 2026. The latest title underscores the city's emergence as a globally acknowledged powerhouse.

Pan Gang, chairman and president of Yili, said China's dairy industry has joined the world's top tier in terms of milk yield per cow, marking a quality leap from follower to front-runner.

"We look forward to joining hands with global partners to deliver value that benefits the entire dairy ecosystem," Pan added.

Beyond the opening ceremony, the conference hosts three parallel forums and industry site visits, creating a full-spectrum platform that spans from pasture to table, research to marketplace, and domestic coordination to international collaboration.

Hohhot, one of China's premier dairy-producing regions, has built a comprehensive industrial chain covering everything from forage and cattle breeding to fresh milk and cheese. Its dairy cluster has been recognized as a national advanced manufacturing cluster and hosts the National Technology Innovation Center for Dairy.

In 2025, the city's full dairy industry chain generated over 300 billion yuan ($42 billion) in revenue.