The dairy giant Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Co is expected to lower costs, improve resources and hedge against fluctuations in global milk prices through cooperation with leading world dairy suppliers, farms and institutions, according to Zhang Jianqiu, Yili's executive president.

The top official of Yili also said that Yili's overseas investment decisions are based on an evaluation of how moves can improve its product portfolio and production capacity. "Moves to go global have fueled Yili's innovation and product diversification," he said.

The past year marked a series of events of Yili in its approach to go global.

In February, 2014, Yili's European Research and Development Center was established, based on its collaboration with Wageningen University in the Netherlands, a top university in the field of life sciences.

The opening ceremony of the Yili European Research and Development Center in the Netherlands on Feb 25, 2014, based on its collaboration with Wageningen University.[Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]