China Cotton Association representatives traveled to Memphis Monday to sign a Memorandum of Understanding, signifying the continued cooperation between China's cotton and textile industries and the National Cotton Council and U.S. cotton interests.
The signing is indicative of the size and scope of China's cotton and textile industries, which in the past 12 months have consumed 8.6 million bales of U.S.-grown cotton -- 36 percent of the U.S. crop.
NCC chairman Allen Helms and China Cotton Association secretary general Madam Gao Fang signed the memorandum Monday at The Cotton Museum in Memphis.
"This memorandum signals a spirit of cooperation and good will," Helms said. "We look forward to a successful future of mutually beneficial trade and increased cooperation among the U.S. and Chinese cotton industries."
China is the world's largest cotton importer, largest raw cotton consumer and the largest cotton producer.
NCC president and CEO Mark Lange said the China Cotton Association already possess the leadership and position in China to serve its growing cotton industry, just as the National Cotton Council serves the U.S. industry.
"The memorandum we're signing today is going to establish a cooperative agreement between these two major cotton associations, representing the world's largest cotton consuming market here in the U.S., the world's largest cotton producer in China, and also the world's largest textile manufacturing complex in China," Lange said. "It's clear that our futures are intertwined. China's fiber needs will only be growing for the foreseeable future."
Fang said her third trip to Memphis was unique.
"I expect a new history will take place from here," she said, speaking through an interpreter. "China has a history of 2,300 years of cotton plantation, but at the CCA we are only three years old."
Founded in 2003, the China Cotton Association is closely modeled after the National Cotton Council, representing all segments of the industry including producers, mills and merchants.
Memphis merchant Gary Taylor, chairman of Cotton Council International, the NCC's export organization, said the signing was an important step that will further cement the relationship of U.S. cotton and China's textile industry.
Cotton Council International will continue its efforts to strengthen ties between U.S. cotton and China, Helms said.
