The Wenzhou Manifesto, which aims to achieve fair competition and mutual benefit between shoe companies in Wenzhou, China, and Elche, Spain, was signed by representative of Wenzhou Shoe Industry Association (WSIA) and Mr. Antonio, director of Elche Shoe Industry Association, in January in Wenzhou.

The manifesto states that both sides will make use of individual advantages to promote beneficial cooperation although the two areas are in competition.

Mr. Zhu Feng, the secretary-general of WSIA, said that Wenzhou shoe merchants have realised that they should share profits made through footwear exports with local people in Elche, following several clashes between local workers and Chinese companies based in the Spanish town incidents in the town last year.

Mr Liu Guang Zhong, director of Chinese Shoe Industry Association in Spain, said now many Wenzhou shoe merchants are beginning to make use of local resources to help their shoe business, including employing local people.