Chinese garment makers should expand cooperation with their Italian counterparts to enlarge trade volume and improve their designs, techniques and capital capability, insiders said in Beijing Friday.
Vice General Secretary Xu Yingchun of the China National Textile Industry Council said, while attending the international fashion exhibition in Beijing, which opened Thursday, that China's garment industry has made huge progress in terms of processing technology and consumption since the reform and opening-up policies were adopted over 20 years ago.
In spite of this, many Chinese garment makers simply make clothing for foreign brands, Xu said, noting these factories should focus on innovation and cultivate their own brands.
"Italy is an ideal partner for cooperation in this respect," Xu said.
Trade Commissioner Remeo Oriandi of the Beijing branch of the Italian Institute for Foreign Trade said, at a press conference held during Friday's exhibition, that Italian garment makers are willing to cooperate with their Chinese counterparts to expand the trade of the garment and professional machinery and to set up distribution channels in China.
Over 40 Italian garment manufacturers, with brands such as ALDONEGRI and CRISTIANO DI THIENE, took part in the exhibition, topping all other countries.
(Xinhua News Agency March 29, 2003)
