The European Union and China signed a letter of intent on Tuesday to fight the trade in fake alcohol.

"This is one step forward in increasing the efficiency of the EU-China cooperation in the fight against counterfeit alcohol,"said the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dacian Ciolos.

The commissioner signed the agreement with Zhi Shuping, the minister of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, China's top quality watchdog.

"It will bring benefits not only for producers, but also for Chinese consumers who will continue to enjoy safe, diverse and quality products", said Ciolos.

EU wine exports to China, the fifth largest wine consumer in the world, reached 257.3 million liters in 2012, representing a total value of nearly $1 billion.