Mexico President Enrique Peña Nieto has big plans for his country's national drink, tequila.

According to EFE, Nieto spoke about Mexico's plans on Monday at the Tequila Regulatory Council's 20th anniversary in Guadalajara, Jalisco. At the event, the council presented the president with the Eagle in Flight award for supporting the tequila industry.

"I want to recognize the success that the Tequila Regulatory Council has achieved in proudly developing this Mexican industry," Peña Nieto said. "Today, Mexican tequila reaches 120 countries on all the continents."

Peña Nieto said that Mexico wants to "conquer new markets" with tequila. In the next five years, Mexico expects China to be the second biggest importer of the alcohol-potent drink.

"If we all do our part, it is forecast that 10 million liters of tequila will be exported to China within five years," the president said.

The Mexican leader reported the country's exportation of 70,000 bottles of 100 percent agave tequila to China in August 2013. The deal was done when 15 different tequila producers went to the country under a trade mission.

"The Chinese market would be the No. 2 export market, after just the U.S.," Peña Nieto continued.

The president also pointed out that 2013 brought "the highest figure in history," with Mexico exporting over 150 million liters of tequila.

Tequila was born in Jalisco, a western Mexican state, and comes from agave plants. According to the president, Mexico's federal government works with tequila makers to protect the 40-year-old denomination of the drink and to make sure it is authentic.

Interestingly enough, some Mexicans seem to have other plans for tequila. Last week, Associated Press reported that drug traffickers have been smuggling methamphetamine into the United States through tequila bottles. The methamphetamine is reportedly dissolved, poured into the empty bottles and sent to Central Valley, California, where it is cooked into crystal form.
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