QINGDAO, July 27 (Xinhua) -- A cooperative mechanism for international beer festivals was set up in the eastern Chinese coastal city of Qingdao Saturday where the ongoing 29th Qingdao International Beer Festival is held.

Initiated by the Qingdao beerfest, the mechanism is set to boost exchanges among popular beer festival organizers including Germany's Oktoberfest, Denver Beer Festival and Toronto's Festival of Beer.

The mechanism aims to enhance cooperation in the beer industry and related tourism and create a platform for international players in the field to seek overseas business opportunities.

Discussions on forming an international beer festival association are also underway, according to the organizer of the Qingdao beerfest.

The festival, the largest of its kind in China, held in Qingdao, the birthplace of China's premium brand of Tsingtao, received 6.2 million tourists last year.