On August 26, the press conference for the 9th World Textile Merchandising Conference 2026 was held in Shanghai. It was announced at the conference that the event will be held under the theme "Interwoven Intelligence: Shaping a New Era for Global Textiles" on November 6, 2026, in Keqiao, Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province.

Digital-intelligent synergy forges industrial resilience

Sun Ruizhe, Party Secretary and President of the China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC), pointed out in his address that the global economic landscape is undergoing profound restructuring, with intertwined uncertainties and instabilities, and the global textile industry now stands at a new crossroads.

Mr. Sun Ruizhe noted that true security is resilience forged through openness; true leadership is standards defined through collaboration; and the true future is responsibility built upon green and intelligent development. To this end, he put forward three initiatives to global peers: reshaping industrial boundaries through digital-intelligent drivers, leading a sustainable future through the integration of digital and green development, and safeguarding industrial security through open collaboration, so as to build an inclusive, trustworthy and sustainable global cooperation system.

Building a new home ground for international cooperation

Keqiao, renowned worldwide as the "International Textile City," serves as a vital window for China's light textile industry. Jing Yao, Deputy Secretary of the Keqiao District Committee of Shaoxing City and District Mayor, presented an overview of Keqiao District's economic and social development for the first half of this year at the conference.

Mr. Jing Yao stated that the organizing committee has extended extensive invitations to international organizations, industry associations, research institutions, leading enterprises, and renowned brand representatives from over 60 key textile-producing countries and regions worldwide. The conference will feature three major highlights: gathering global top-tier talents, releasing cutting-edge innovative achievements, and expanding spaces for win-win cooperation. The conference will fully leverage its role as a bridge, coordinating with more than ten concurrent events to strengthen global textile industry exchanges.

During the media Q&A session, four leaders addressed journalists' questions on industry hot topics.

Addressing new challenges in value enhancement

Yan Yan, Vice President of the China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC), pointed out that in the new stage of digital-intelligent development, China's textile industry needs to: deepen original technological innovation in areas such as high-performance fibers, intelligent textiles and digital twin manufacturing; drive the industry toward the high end of the value chain; accelerate the development of green standards, carbon accounting and traceability systems aligned with international practices; break through upstream and downstream data barriers through industry-level industrial internet platforms; and build a supply chain system featuring mutually reinforcing domestic and international dual circulation.

Song Qi, Party Secretary of China Textile City Group, stated that the Keqiao District Government will take the expansion and quality improvement project of the China Textile City as its focal point to accelerate the development of a modern textile industry system. The plan is to build a world-class marketplace by promoting market renovation and renewal, accelerating fashion industry transformation, deepening digital and intelligent transformation, and developing a world-class science and technology innovation platform.

Regarding the key areas of focus for Chin Textile City Group during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Pan Jianhua, Chairman of China Textile City Group, stated that the Group will vigorously introduce new products to strengthen the brand identity of China Textile City, promote intelligent trading by fully connecting various data across the industrial chain, and expand its global exhibition and trade network to continuously empower international trade.

Rooted in Keqiao with a global vision, the World Textile Merchandising Conference has served both as a faithful chronicler of China's textile industry transformation and a steadfast bridge fostering connectivity and win-win cooperation across the global textile sector. The Conference will continue to embrace the world with openness and lead the industry with innovation. More than ten concurrent events, including the WGSN Futures China 2026, the Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress, Keqiao Fashion Week, and the Keqiao Textile Expo (Autumn), will be held alongside the Conference. We look forward to welcoming the global textile community to Keqiao for dialogue, collaboration, and shared vision, as we join hands to open a brighter future for the global textile industry.