China looks to Africa for cotton sourcing
China is doing more to promote and develop its cotton-planting operation in four African countries, the country’s Ministry of Commerce said on its website on 15 December, 2011.
Experts and analysts said the move will help to strengthen ties between China, Benin, Mali, Chad and Burkina Faso. It will also allow the cotton trade to take place under fairer conditions in accordance with the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) framework.
According to the statement, China will provide seeds, machinery, fertilizer and other materials to help promote cotton planting in the African countries. There will also be programs providing training for technical and management personnel in both China and Africa, where companies will be encouraged to cooperate, innovate and improve their production capabilities in the textile industry, the ministry said.
Commerce Minister Chen Deming said China understands the needs of African countries. “China’s market is always open to African countries,” he said.
Du Min, director of the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture’s research centre for rural economy, said: “We have been providing African countries with aid and technical training for many years. Further cooperation will help to improve their production capacity. China’s decision is promoting fair cotton trade in the world. African economies will benefit from the cooperation.”
The closer ties may also help to secure another source of cotton for China, which imports and consumes more of the fibre than any other country in the world.
