CITME Preview
Textile World Asia Special ReportBeijing BeckonsA record number of visitors is expected to
converge on China’s capital city in October to attend the 9th edition of CITME.
CITME 2004 will take place at the China International Exhibition Centre in Beijing.The
historic sites and monuments of Beijing will serve as backdrops to the modern-day hustle and bustle
of the global textile industry when this year’s China International Textile Machinery Exhibition
(CITME) takes place at the China International Exhibition Centre Oct. 12 through Oct. 16.CITME
visitors will have five full days to explore 10 halls filled with machinery exhibits devoted to
spinning and weaving equipment for cotton, wool, linen and man-made fibers; knitting equipment;
finishing equipment for dyeing and printing; processing systems and equipment for technical
textiles and nonwovens; and textile testing and measuring equipment; among many other offerings. An
accompanying technical seminar program also will be offered.Strong SupportCITME 2004 is sponsored
by the China National Textile Industry Council and the China Council for the Promotion of
International Trade (CCPIT); and organized by the CCPIT Sub-Council of Textile Industry, China
International Exhibition Center Group Corp., and the China Textile Machinery & Accessories
Association; with assistance from Hongkong Expositions Ltd. and China Textile Machinery and
Technology Import & Export Corp.With such a contingent of support behind it, CITME is sure to
offer something for everyone. The exhibition benefits from an endorsement by the Union of
International Fairs (UFI), and is the first international textile machinery exhibition held in
China to receive such an endorsement.Continuous GrowthHeld every two years since 1988, CITME has
grown in size — both in square footage and visitor participation — show after show. CITME 2002
featured 850 exhibitors and attracted a record 120,000 visitors from 26 countries.David Li, a
representative from Hongkong Expositions Ltd., says this year’s event expects to welcome more than
1,000 exhibitors from 20 or so countries and regions, occupying 60,000 square meters of exhibition
space in 10 exhibition halls. Much of that exhibition space will be occupied by the international
contingent. As of press time, 10 national and regional pavilions, including China, France, Germany,
Italy, Japan, Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States, have confirmed
their participation. In addition, Li says 120,000 visitors are expected at the show, with about 90
percent of them coming from other parts of China and 10 percent coming from overseas.
China: A Growing MarketVisitors to CITME 2002 wondered how China’s accession to the World
Trade Organization (WTO) would affect the global textile industry. The dominant concern of visitors
this year most likely will be China’s competitive role when quotas are lifted at the beginning of
next year. Recognizing these concerns, CITME bills itself as a learning opportunity for global
companies that wish to understand and enter the Chinese textile market, a market that, since
opening its doors to reforms, has shown consistent growth. This growth shows no signs of abating
come January 2005.According to show organizers, China saw a record 15.8-percent increase in textile
and garment output in 2002, totaling $61.8 billion. Production also increased dramatically that
year: Yarn production grew 15.8 percent; fabrics, 11.2 percent; garments, 8.5 percent; silk
products, 20 percent; and man-made fibers, more than 20 percent.CITME organizers cite China’s
membership to the WTO as positive factors leading to an increase in machinery investment. In the
first quarter of 2004 alone, according to Chinese Customs data, China imported $1.184 billion worth
of textile machinery, a 3.48-percent growth compared to the same period in 2003. Among the imports,
the majority were knitting and spinning equipment, with each segment accounting for 19 percent of
the total amounts spent on machinery imports. Machinery came primarily from Japan, Germany, Italy,
Korea and Switzerland — these five countries provided 83 percent of all imported machines. The
majority of the imports were shipped to provinces with high concentrations of textile plants,
including Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Shandong and Fujian.As China continues to move toward a
full market economy, it has, according to the People’s Daily Online (China’s official Communist
Party newspaper on the Internet), put into effect an Administrative Licensing Law that will help
the country fulfill its commitment to the WTO by streamlining approval procedures and removing
certain government restrictions. A revised law on foreign trade also has recently been put into
effect, enabling, for the first time, individuals and businesses to engage in import and export
activities without prior approval from the government.China’s 10th Five-Year Plan, developed by the
China State Development Planning Committee, outlines its goal for expanding textile and garment
exports from $52 billion in 2000 to $70 billion to $75 billion in 2005. The plan also calls for
increasing fiber production, per-capita fiber consumption, productivity and technical progress. It
would seem that China is well on its way to achieving these goals.
Beijing SightsPreparations for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing already have begun, and
these activities will reinforce the notion that Beijing is a city of centuries-old tradition and
modern-day conveniences and technology. CITME attendees and visitors who have extra time during
their trip may consider taking in some of the famous tourist attractions the city has to offer. The
China National Tourist Office recommends the following:Great WallA United Nation’s World Heritage
site, the Great Wall is a symbol of the ancient Chinese civilization. Stretching 3,950 miles, its
construction began during the warring period of 476 – 221 B.C. After emperor Qin Shihuang of the
Qin Dynasty unified China in 221 B.C., the individual walls were joined together to create one
continuous wall. The complete structure took more than 1 million people and more than 10 years to
finish. The best preserved section of the wall can be seen at Badaling, 50 miles north of Beijing.
Forbidden CityAlso known as the Palace Museum, the Forbidden City is the largest and
best-preserved imperial residence in China today. Located in the center of Beijing, the Forbidden
City was built between 1406 and 1420 under Ming emperor Yongle, and served as the imperial palace
for the Ming and Qing dynasties. The palace stretches 3,150 feet long from north to south and 2,460
feet wide from east to west. It has 9,900 rooms and halls containing many relics. A 170-foot-wide
moat and 32-foot-high walls encircle the building.Ming TombsDating from the Ming dynasty, which
lasted from 1368 to 1644, the Ming Tombs are a group of mausoleums of 13 Ming emperors and their
empresses and concubines. The tombs are located about 31 miles north of Beijing and are scattered
across an area of 25 square miles. Two of the tombs, Changling and Dingling, an underground palace,
are open to the public.Tiananmen SquareBuilt in 1417 and renovated in 1981, Tiananmen is the symbol
of modern-day China. On October 1, 1949, Chairman Mao Tsetung proclaimed the founding of the
People’s Republic of China at this precise location. Situated in the center of Beijing, it is the
largest city square in the world, covering an area of 122 acres and big enough to hold half a
million people.Temple of HeavenThe Temple of Heaven was built in 1420 during the reign of Ming
dynasty emperor Yongle. Located in the southern part of the city, it was the place where emperors
of the Ming and Qing dynasties would pray to heaven for good harvests. Today, it attracts 12
million visitors every year.Summer PalaceThe Summer Palace served as an imperial palace and royal
garden during the Qing dynasty. Today, it remains an outstanding example of imperial gardens in
classical Chinese style.
The Marble Boat is one of the many attractions inside the Summer Palace.Beihai ParkBeihai
Park served as the imperial garden of several dynasties. Located on the west side of the Forbidden
City, it is one of the oldest of all Chinese gardens.Jingshan ParkA royal garden of the Ming and
Qing dynasties, Jingshan Park is adjacent to the Forbidden City. The main purpose of the park was
for the emperors’ enjoyment — hiking, admiring the scenery, and eating and drinking. Within the
park, Jingshan Hill covers an area of approximately 57 acres and rises to a height of 144 feet,
from which visitors can see the entire city of Beijing.HutongsWith 4,550 of them, hutongs are a
special feature of downtown Beijing. A hutong can be a street, lane or alley lined on both sides by
courtyards containing different kinds of houses.
Fall 2004