On September 6, 2023, the 11th China-Korea-Japan Fiber Industry Cooperation Conference was held in Qingdao, China. This conference was hosted by the China National Textile and Apparel Council and the Qingdao Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology and co-organized by the Shandong Textile and Clothing Industry Association and Qingdao Zhongfang Yilian Investment Group Co., Ltd. The Korean Fiber Industry Federation and the Japan Fiber Industry Alliance led a delegation to attend the meeting. The three parties had in-depth exchanges on the current development status and prospects of the textile and clothing industry in China, South Korea, and Japan, as well as their thoughts on the textile and clothing industry in the post-pandemic era. Consensus has been reached on hot issues such as jointly promoting textile and clothing trade, building a mutually beneficial industrial and supply chain cooperation system, and enhancing the resilience of regional industrial development.

Xia Lingmin, Secretary General of the China National Textile and Apparel Council, mentioned in her speech that the China-South Korea Japan Fiber Industry Cooperation Conference had been held for more than ten years since its first time in 2010. It is not only an important platform for mutual exchange and consensus-seeking among the three textile industries but also an important witness to the continuous development and progress of the global textile industry chain and supply chain in sincere cooperation

Cui Bingwu, president of the Korea Fiber Industry Federation, said in his speech that in the past three years, the global textile and clothing industry has experienced major changes in the industrial pattern due to the impact of COVID-19, weak consumer demand and the restructuring of the global supply chain. In this situation, the South Korean textile and clothing industry actively cultivates intelligent manufacturing capabilities for clothing, constructs a metaverse industry cluster, promotes the intelligence and automation of manufacturing sites, and cultivates digital talents. It promotes innovation and development in the textile and clothing industry through unremitting efforts.

He also emphasized that the textile and clothing industries of China, South Korea, and Japan should pay more attention and importance to the value of environmental protection and digital transformation. He hoped that the three countries' textile industries, based on existing good cooperation, will promote deeper practical cooperation around more innovative and revolutionary themes for the future, including tripartite meetings and forums, to achieve a higher level of mutual benefit and win-win.

In his speech, Kenichi Fujichi, vice president and secretary-general of Japan Fiber Industry Alliance, said that the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on Japan's economy was also stabilizing, and economic activities were evolving towards normalization. However, the price increase of raw materials, energy, etc. has become unstable in enterprise activities and consumption. The Japanese fiber industry firmly believes that  to increase economic growth rates, it is necessary to carry out digital transformation and carbon neutrality reforms. In addition, promoting regional economic cooperation in trade is seen as an excellent opportunity to expand business flow to global markets further and create demand.

He firmly believes that China, Japan, and South Korea’s fiber industry is a cooperative partner. To grow and develop together, we should work together, maintain the spirit of leading the world fiber industry, and strengthen mutual trust.

Yuan Hongping, Deputy Secretary General and Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of China National Textile and Apparel Council; Zhu Nuoling, Executive Vice President of the Korea Fiber Industry Federation; and Fu Zhexian, Vice President and Secretary General of the Japan Fiber Industry Federation, respectively introduced representatives from China, South Korea, and Japan to the conference. Xia Lingmin, Secretary General of the China National Textile and Apparel Council, presided over the opening ceremony.

At the meeting, Sun Ruizhe, President of the International Textile Manufacturers Federation and President of the China National Textile and Apparel Council, delivered a keynote speech entitled "Practice and Prospects of China's Textile Industry Integration into the Global Supply Chain System.". Sun Ruizhe introduced four aspects of China's practice: the new trend of adjusting the global textile supply chain layout, the integration of China's textile industry into the world, ensuring the smooth operation of the global supply chain, building a more resilient regional textile supply chain system in China, South Korea, and Japan, and building a modern textile industry system.

Under the topic of "Development Status and Prospects of Textile and Clothing Industry", representatives from the three sides exchanged information on the development of fiber industry in various countries after the epidemic, the impact of the epidemic on the fiber industry, and changes in imports and exports. Zhu Nuoling, Executive Vice President of the Korea Fiber Industry Federation, presided over the issue.

Under the topic of "Reflections on the Textile and Clothing Industry in the Post-Epidemic Era", representatives from the three sides conducted in-depth discussions and exchanges on the value and role of Eastern culture in contemporary fashion innovation and development, digital transformation of the fiber industry, sustainability, and other aspects. Kenichi Fuji, Vice President and Secretary General of the Japan Fiber Industry Alliance chaired this topic .

At the meeting, representatives from China, South Korea, and Japan engaged in in-depth exchanges and discussions on numerous hot topics, and reached the following consensus: in the post pandemic era, facing unprecedented changes in the world, the three sides should further strengthen exchanges and mutual learning, jointly promote textile and clothing trade, build a mutually beneficial industrial and supply chain cooperation system, and enhance the resilience of regional industrial development; The three parties will continue to focus on industry hot issues and promote cooperation in multiple fields, including: liberalization of textile and clothing trade between China, South Korea, and Japan, fashion leadership and innovation, digital technology, and sustainable development actions; In order to continue playing the role of a platform for the trilateral fiber industry cooperation conference, the three sides have agreed to hold the 12th South Korea Japan China Fiber Industry Cooperation Conference in South Korea.

After the meeting, representatives from China, South Korea, and Japan also visited the Qingdao Oriental Fashion Center and watched the opening ceremony of the Oriental Fashion Season 2023 Qingdao Fashion Week.