Moutai Group has halted talks with the World Luxury Association (WLA) to be included in its luxury items list, WLA said Tuesday, Beijing Times reported.

A WLA chief representative in China confirmed earlier that it is in talks with the Moutai Group on its application. He said the WLA will publish a report on the world's top 100 luxury brands.

The price of Moutai will exceed 5,000 yuan within three years, a manager of a Chinese liquor store belonging to the Kweichow Moutai Group Co Ltd said recently, adding Moutai Group will apply to become a luxury brand recognized by international award agencies.

However, Ji Keliang, former chairman of the group, declared in April that Moutai would not become a luxury brand.

Brewed in a small town in Guizhou Province, Moutai for decades has been considered China's top liquor brand and a status symbol.

China's business press carried the story above on Wednesday.