ITMF 2022 Annual Conference in Switzerland: Focus on Climate Change and Textile Value Chain Sustainability

International Textile Federation Chairman, China Textile Federation President Sun Rui Zhe led the Chinese textile delegation to participate in the meeting. Xu Yingxin and Li Lingshen, vice presidents of the China Textile Federation, Yan Yan, director of the Social Responsibility Office of the China Textile Federation, Zhang Chuanxiong, deputy director of the Science and Technology Development Department, Huang Song, director of the International Organizations Division of the Foreign Affairs Office, Gu Ping, president of the China Textile Machinery Association, Cong Zheng, secretary-general, and about 30 representatives of Chinese textile clusters and enterprises attended the meeting.

Sun Ruizhe, President of the International Textile Federation, delivered the opening speech of the conference. He first talked about, after three years, the annual meeting finally from the "cloud" back to "offline", the global textile industry gathered in beautiful Davos, Switzerland, which is a good start, reflecting the willingness of countries (regions) to promote industrial development, consensus and confidence.

He stressed that since the epidemic, the international situation is increasingly unstable, uncertain and insecure factors, overlapping each other, the world has entered a new period of turbulent change. The global textile industry to overcome the pressure, to promote recovery, showing the strong resilience and vitality of the industry chain supply chain. 2021, the global textile industry achieved stable growth, natural fibers, man-made fibers and spunbond nonwoven fiber market size grew 3.7% to 127.1 million tons. World production of natural and man-made fibers reached 118.5 million tons with a 3-year fastest growth rate of 4.6%, with man-made fibers growing 8.8% to 88.2 million tons.

He also talked about the uncertainty of the external environment makes the industry development face more pressure. Global industry chain cooperation is hindered, commodity prices fluctuate, global inflation persists for a long time, and the mid- and downstream market demand is sluggish. In particular, the European energy crisis has exacerbated the risk of upstream raw material supply. Demand contraction and supply shocks are intertwined, and the foundation for sustained industrial recovery is yet to be solidified.

Sun Rui Zhe believes that to address common challenges, grasp the important window of economic recovery, the global textile industry to create a community of common destiny, strengthen pragmatic cooperation, so that the global textile industry on a healthy and stable development track. First, we must adhere to common prosperity and promote open development. Second, we should follow the trend of science and technology, and promote innovation and development. Third, we should integrate into the digital economy and promote integrated development. Fourth, we should practice the dual carbon goal and promote green development. Fifth, we should adhere to the people-oriented, to promote responsible development.

In his speech, Sun Rizhe also focused on the International Textile Federation. He pointed out that at present, the epidemic repeatedly delayed, geo-conflicts intensified, broken chain decoupling and food and energy security issues are increasingly prominent, human beings are facing unprecedented challenges. At the same time, we also see that the expectations of countries (regions) to achieve peace and stability have not changed, the aspirations to accelerate economic recovery and development have not changed, and the spirit of solidarity and cooperation to overcome the difficulties of the times has not changed.

Sun Ruizhe stressed that under the new situation, the International Textile Federation, as an important constructive force in the world textile industry, should continue to be faithful to the original intention and mission of promoting the development of the industry and the pursuit of human progress; to uphold the positioning of promoting industry unity and serving the development of the industry; to promote the stability and consistency of exchanges and cooperation among members. As long as the industry is beneficial, the International Textile Federation should be obliged to do, and do a good job. And put forward a few suggestions: First, enhance the sense of pioneering, open a new situation; second, promote the development of the key, seeking new results; third, promote the spirit of solidarity, strengthen the new cooperation.

Sun Rizhe stressed that development is the eternal theme of human society. Everything gets its origin to be born, and everything gets its way to become. Open cooperation is the right way to promote the sustainable development of the global textile industry. Looking to the future, we should follow the trend of historical development and the development trend of globalization, be confident and move forward hand in hand, and we will definitely have a beautiful future for our embroidery business!