By Xiao Ying, Zhong Mengxia

In the new era of continuous deepening of centurial changes and the new starting point of two centurial converging, the establishment of goal of carbon peak, carbon neutrality and the rapid development of digital economy have brought new challenges and opportunities to the global textile industry.

On September 23, the press conference of the 4th World Textile Mer-Chandising Conference was held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. It was announced that the 4th World Textile Merchandising Conference will be held on October 26-29, 2021 in Shaoxing, Keqiao Textile Expo and Keqiao Fashion Week also will come to visitors. Meanwhile, the preparatory work related to the event was introduced.

Sun Ruizhe, chairman of International Textile Manufacturers Federation, president of China National Textile and Apparel Council, Liu Yong, vice president of China General Chamber of Commerce, Zhang Xi'an, vice president of China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textile and Apparel, Xia Lingmin, vice president of China National Textile and Apparel Council, Qiao Jinyan, director of China Textile Information Center, Li Yongjie, member of the Standing Committee of Shaoxing Keqiao District Committee and minister of Publicity Department and many other industrial insiders and local officials gathered together to attend this meeting. Li Yongjie presided over this meeting.

With the theme of "Digital empowerment & sustainable symbiosis", this conference will lead us to new directions and ideas from digital transformation, green and sustainable development, industrial community, cultural value chain and other dimensions. According to introducing, the conference includes theme conference, Round-Table Conference of World-renowned Enterprises, forums, the 23rd China Shaoxing Keqiao International Textile Expo 2021 (fall), the national well-known enterprise product exhibition hall, China Textile City Imported Boutique Fabric Exhibition, 2021 Keqiao Fashion Week (fall), Keqiao Optimal Brands Exhibition, 2021 China Shaoxing Keqiao International Exhibition on Textile Trade Service, etc.

Linking global chain

“At present, the global manufacturing system, innovation system and governance system are undergoing profound adjustment, which requires the global textile and garment industry to build a new industrial ecology from the trend and systematic changes. Greening and digitization are undoubtedly the two most important directions.”President Sun Ruizhe said. This conference with the theme of digital empowerment and sustainable symbiosis distingushs the road of sustatined development, optimizes the path of digital transformation, gathers consensus for long-term improvement of industrial and contributes to strength. Focused on the industrial value and future prospects, President Sun Ruizhe presents three points, firstly, create real value to servert high-quality life; in the second place, create forward value to instruct sustained environment with responsible ways; at last, create common value to push inclusive growns with open cooperation. “China textile and clothing industry strives to work and improve together with progressed strength all over the world, along the right path of building a community with a shared future for mankind, bring benefits to our people and make the world better”, he added.

Secretary Zhao Rulang stated that the Textile Merchandising Conference has become the most comprehensive international conference in China's textile industry, with the largest number of participants and the strongest recognition after three sessions. Theis year, it was listed as a major exchange activity of the Belt and Road and 14th Five-Year Plan of Zhejiang Province. Keqiao, as the permanent host place, with centuried history, cultural atmosphere and creative valitity, show the world the history background of old Shaoxing and its development results. Zhao said, he believes this conference will be the bridge of domestic and international cooperation, enhance cooperation and mutual trust, achieve win-win cooperation, and bring new opportunities of "open and integrated", "green and low-carbon" and "digital transformation" to the textile industry.

Focusing the plan of digital and green

On the basis of the successful experience of the previous three sessions, what highlights will this Textile Merchandising Conference present? Fang Youmei, deputy head of the district, said the audience on the preparatory work in terms of digital development and dual carbon goals. Firstly, pay more attention to digital creative textile, digital manufacture and fashion, etc; secondly, explore the feasible path of green ablitity and indstrial sysytem upgrade; thirdly, show the technological, brand, channel, mode and service innovation, etc.

Also, she said that the conference will carry out oneline and oラine again. They have made extensive contacts with industry associations and well-known enterprises in more than 60 key countries in the textile industry, such as Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, India and Vietnam.

Cooperate with global industries

“Industry prosperity rose to a high, the production situation continued to improve; the domestic market gradually recovered, and the quality and efficiency of the industry is tend to be positive; international demand continued to recover, and exports picked up significantly. Confidence in the industry has steadily rebounded.” Xia Lingmin said.

Referring to the close cooperation of the global textile industry chain under the complex situation, Xia said that the international cooperation between China's textile industry and the global textile industry has never stopped, and both the product and technology cooperation and the brand cooperation have shown a growing and deepening trend. In addition, he expressed the hope to take the opportunity of the World Textile Merchandising Conference to enhance global consensus and cooperation, and jointly maintain the stability of the industrial chain and supply chain. In the first place, increase international cooperation during the pandemic period to promote economic recovery; secondly, promote industrial transformation and upgrading and increase scientific and technological innovation; thirdly, build a new pattern of "double circulation" and actively expand domestic demand; fourthly, advance the implementation of the "dual carbon" target and pursue green development.