Hongjing

2021 was the opening year of the 14th Five-Year Plan, and also the year that marked the beginning of the new journey to comprehensively build a socialist modern country. After an extraordinary 2020, we have persevered through hardship and challenges. Standing at this new starting point, it is crucial to take the first step well and embark on this new journey successfully.

At this year's National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Chen Lifen, a national NPC deputy and the Party secretary of Jiangsu Sunlight Group, put forward suggestions on several key aspects: how intelligent manufacturing can promote the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, the development of high-end equipment manufacturing, creating a new international competitive advantage for industrial textiles, and accelerating the construction and improvement of the "Lancang-Mekong" regional textile industry chain and supply chain cooperation system. Her suggestions aim to contribute to the high-quality development of enterprises.

Jiangsu Sunlight Group, founded in 1986, is not only a key national enterprise group and a national technological innovation demonstration enterprise, but also the world's largest wool textile producer and a high-end suit production base. It is a traditional leader and benchmark in China's textile and garment industry.

At the end of last year, Jiangsu Sunlight Group's "intelligent textile workshop" and "intelligent garment workshop" were both selected for the 2020 Jiangsu Provincial Demonstration Intelligent Workshop list. The investment of over 200 million yuan in the construction of these "intelligent workshops" over two years represents a strong push towards intelligent transformation and upgrading. In Chen Lifen's view, this is not only an urgent need for Sunlight Group, but also the common aspiration of many traditional enterprises.

Developing intelligent manufacturing and promoting the development of high-end equipment manufacturing

Chen Lifen said: "Currently, our entire economy is undergoing a transformation, especially with the advent of the digital economy, our enterprises must seize the opportunity and accelerate the integration of informatization and industrialization, achieving digital transformation. When it comes to textile equipment, high-end equipment is still mainly from abroad, particularly from Europe, where high-end equipment manufacturing is relatively advanced. However, China still has a certain gap in high-end equipment. Therefore, enterprise transformation and upgrading, especially the realization of digital transformation, must begin with improving equipment. At the same time, manufacturing enterprises themselves, as the main body of innovation, must comprehensively and throughout the whole chain carry out intelligent transformation."

Enterprise transformation and upgrading, especially the realization of digital transformation, must begin with improving equipment.

To further develop intelligent manufacturing, promote the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, and achieve high-quality economic development, Chen Lifen proposed the following suggestions at this year's Two Sessions:

First, establish a national special fund for intelligent manufacturing to support the intelligent transformation and upgrading of traditional enterprises and cultivate new international competitive advantages for China's manufacturing industry.

It is suggested that investment subsidies be provided for the intelligent technological transformation of traditional manufacturing enterprises, major breakthroughs in key technologies for intelligent manufacturing, and industrialization projects. At the same time, it is suggested to increase support for relevant projects in terms of credit, corporate bonds, and capital market financing. Through promoting the deep integration of new generation information technology with manufacturing, developing new formats of intelligent manufacturing services and intelligent equipment, building an intelligent manufacturing ecosystem, and establishing a sound talent support system, we can fully stimulate the endogenous driving force of enterprises, promote the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries towards intelligence, green, service-oriented, high-end, and Brand development, and cultivate and enhance China's manufacturing industry's new international competitive advantages.

Second, formulate a plan for the implementation of intelligent manufacturing, aggregating and integrating various innovative and advanced technological resources and elements to promote the overall improvement of quality and efficiency in China's traditional manufacturing industry.

It is suggested that a "14th Five-Year Plan" for the implementation of intelligent manufacturing be formulated, clarifying the goals, timetable, and roadmap for the intelligent transformation and upgrading of major traditional industries such as textiles, machinery, and electronics. Seize the historical opportunity presented by intelligent manufacturing, make full use of advanced technologies such as the internet, big data, and intelligent factories, integrate network and digital management systems, aim for high-end directions, accelerate the research, development, demonstration, promotion, and application of new generation intelligent manufacturing technologies, lead product innovation and upgrading in traditional industries, promote the improvement of production quality and efficiency in traditional industries, and achieve the transformation of China's manufacturing industry from large to strong. Promote typical models of intelligent manufacturing across industries, issue industry guidelines for intelligent manufacturing technological transformation, and promote advanced technologies and equipment for intelligent manufacturing.

Guide and encourage enterprises to increase innovation and development efforts, deepen cooperation between government, industry, academia, and research, and promote the transformation of scientific and technological achievements to improve enterprises' intelligent equipment levels. Combining with the actual development of enterprises, fully considering the balance between technological advancement and technical and economic feasibility, solving breakthroughs in key and difficult technologies in the manufacturing process, and improving the supporting system for intelligent manufacturing. Deepen mutual interaction between government departments and key traditional enterprises, intelligent manufacturing enterprises, and technology-based enterprises; support and guide enterprises in solving the hot and difficult issues encountered in the process of intelligent manufacturing; guide and encourage enterprises to apply for various special awards projects to enhance enterprises' confidence and determination in intelligent development.

Third, give play to the guiding role of the government and the role of association platforms to promote a shared manufacturing model, create an intelligent manufacturing industrial ecosystem, and enhance the international competitiveness of intelligent manufacturing.

It is suggested that policy support and guidance be increased, industry resources be integrated, the role of industry association platforms be fully utilized, information exchange on various innovative manufacturing resources be strengthened, a shared manufacturing model be implemented, alliance-based model be used to promote the development of an industrial ecosystem, and equipment manufacturing enterprises, communication equipment manufacturers, electronic information manufacturers, and scientific research institutions be encouraged to cooperate and assist each other in organizing the establishment of cross-industry intelligent manufacturing industry alliances that cover functions such as technology research and development, product manufacturing, application promotion, and system integration. Pay attention to the coordinated development of the upstream and downstream of the industrial chain and accelerate the development of the entire chain, including standard setting, technology research and development, product production, and application promotion.

To encourage the textile and other industries to focus on the high-end of the industrial structure and the intelligence of equipment technology, comprehensively promote industrial technology transformation and upgrading, and promote the development of high-end equipment manufacturing, catching up with or even surpassing the advanced level of developed countries during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, and achieving "Made in China 2025" as soon as possible, Chen Lifen proposed the following suggestions:

1. Continue to support the transformation of technological achievements in the high-end equipment manufacturing industry by private enterprises

It is suggested that the state provide policy support and guidance in terms of technology transformation and industrialization; support the creation of R&D and innovation platforms for high-end equipment manufacturing based on leading private enterprises, and play a leading and exemplary role in the industry.

2. Increase policy guidance to encourage enterprises to focus on strengthening their foundation and addressing shortcomings, solving "bottleneck" problems

The prominent "bottleneck" problems in the design and key components of high-end equipment in the manufacturing industry's short-board areas are major challenges facing the development of China's manufacturing industry. Whether it is industry policy guidance or enterprise intelligent construction, the government needs to further strengthen policy guidance to encourage the manufacturing industry to focus on strengthening its foundation and addressing shortcomings, and to strengthen independent innovation, accelerate the formation of independent technologies, products, and Brands, and further promote the development of high-end equipment manufacturing.

3. Establish a special support fund for high-end equipment manufacturing to address cost constraints and promote the advancement of "Made in China" to the high-end

High-end equipment manufacturing is an industry with promising prospects worldwide, but it is also a typical industry with high investment in the early stages of development, high risk in the mid-term, and high output in the later stages. It is hoped that relevant functional departments will reduce the burden on enterprises in terms of cost by establishing a special support fund for high-end equipment manufacturing and establishing a tax support system for high-end equipment manufacturing, incentivizing the manufacturing industry to use high-end equipment as a new competitive advantage through income tax deductions, import tax preferences, and equipment purchase subsidies, promoting the transformation of "Made in China" from large to strong, and creating a high-end manufacturing "China Brand" with high-quality and reliable products and core technologies.

Creating a new international competitive advantage for industrial textiles

Last year, in the face of the epidemic, Sunshine Group responded swiftly, switching production to protective clothing and isolation gowns, and actively participating in the fight against the epidemic both domestically and internationally. Besides Sunshine Group, with many domestic enterprises switching production, China's epidemic prevention textile industry has undergone tremendous changes, with the production capacity and output of related products rapidly expanding, greatly boosting exports. In Chen Lifen's view, establishing a National Standardization Technical Committee for Industrial Textiles and a National Manufacturing Innovation Center for Industrial Textiles is urgently needed to accelerate the improvement of China's international competitiveness in industrial textiles.

Chen Lifen pointed out that while China's overall production capacity of industrial textiles is the largest globally, the technology, Brand, and standards are relatively weak and lacking. We need to take the initiative, actively participate in setting standards and establishing a big data platform, to quickly gain a voice in setting standards for industrial textiles and improve their international competitiveness.

To take the initiative, to quickly gain a voice in setting standards for industrial textiles, and to enhance international competitiveness.

At this year's Two Sessions, to improve relevant policies and measures, and to guide and support the development of the industrial textile industry, Chen Lifen put forward the following suggestions:

1. Elevate the Status of Industrial Textiles in Industry Classification

In the current "National Economic Industry Classification" (GB/T4754-2017), China's textile industry mainly involves three categories: textiles, textile clothing and apparel, and chemical fiber manufacturing. Industrial textile product manufacturing is a sub-category under textiles. The current classification system cannot adapt to the rapid development of industrial textiles and their increasingly important industry status. Rapidly developing fields such as medical and healthcare textiles, geotechnical and construction textiles, and safety protection textiles lack clear classifications, hindering macro-management of the industry. It is suggested that government departments revise the "National Economic Industry Classification" standard in a timely manner, raising the existing industrial textile manufacturing to a major category, parallel to textiles, textile clothing and apparel, and chemical fiber manufacturing, and adding sub-categories under industrial textile manufacturing.

2. Establish a National Standardization Technical Committee for Industrial Textiles

Given that China has become the world's largest producer, exporter, and consumer of industrial textiles, the supporting and leading role of standardization work is becoming increasingly prominent and the demand is increasing. It is suggested to establish a National Standardization Technical Committee for Industrial Textiles to achieve comprehensive, coordinated management and quality supervision of industrial textile standardization work, forming a cross-departmental collaborative mechanism through standard alignment, and promoting the industry's grasp of international discourse power and the formation of new international competitive advantages through standards.

3. Establish a National Manufacturing Innovation Center for Industrial Textiles

Equipment and processes are the backbone and heart of industrial economy. Their transformation, upgrading, and innovative development play a fundamental and decisive role in optimizing and upgrading the industrial system. It is suggested to establish a National Manufacturing Innovation Center for Industrial Textiles to enhance the independent innovation capabilities of industrial textile equipment manufacturing and production processes, break through the development bottlenecks of the industrial textile manufacturing industry, significantly enhance the industry's core competitiveness, strengthen research and development of cutting-edge and key technologies, accelerate technological breakthroughs and industrial applications, ensure the security of the industrial chain, and better serve national strategies.

Constructing and Upgrading the Lancang-Mekong Textile Industry Chain and Supply Chain Cooperation System

Based on the progress of enterprises in the Ethiopia Industrial Park, Chen Lifen has conducted in-depth research on the current situation of overseas industrial layout, the practical difficulties encountered by enterprises "going global", and solutions to these problems. At this year's National Two Sessions, she will put forward suggestions on accelerating the construction and upgrading of the Lancang-Mekong regional textile industry chain and supply chain cooperation system.

Chen Lifen said: "We have found that single factories going global have brought certain confusion or difficulties. My suggestion is to establish a platform for the overall integration of resources in the Lancang-Mekong region, especially in Southeast Asia. We hope that the state can introduce some policies or establish special funds to comprehensively plan and design the overall industry in the region, integrate more upstream and downstream resources of the industry chain, and help enterprises operate and develop smoothly and healthily overseas."

It is suggested to establish a platform for the overall integration of resources in the Lancang-Mekong region, especially in Southeast Asia.

Chen Lifen puts forward the following suggestions on accelerating the construction and upgrading of the Lancang-Mekong regional textile industry chain and supply chain cooperation system:

1. Include textile industry capacity cooperation as a priority area for Lancang-Mekong capacity cooperation, and do the top-level design for regional textile industry chain cooperation

It is suggested to explicitly list textile industry capacity cooperation as a key and priority industry for Lancang-Mekong capacity cooperation, with relevant departments taking the lead in policy top-level design. Based on a thorough study of the common and differentiated actual needs of the six countries, a roadmap for Lancang-Mekong textile industry cooperation and a multi-party action plan should be developed.

2. Introduce comprehensive policies to support enterprises in building China-led cross-national industrial chains and supply chains in the Lancang-Mekong region

It is suggested that the state establish a Lancang-Mekong textile industry cooperation fund within the existing capacity cooperation fund framework to provide sustainable credit or equity investment support for some textile enterprises' Lancang-Mekong greenfield investment projects and textile industrial park projects; encourage and guide textile enterprises to enter border economic cooperation zones and cross-border economic cooperation zones, especially in provinces with conditions such as Guangxi and Yunnan, to build industrial clusters of key products such as chemical fiber, yarn, and fabrics, and form closer and more efficient regional supply chain cooperation with clothing production enterprises (including Chinese-invested enterprises) in Vietnam and Myanmar.

3. Appropriately increase textile projects in the Lancang-Mekong region in foreign aid projects

It is suggested that relevant departments increase foreign aid projects in Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia in the textile and garment industry, including but not limited to building characteristic small factories, establishing specialized textile and dyeing parks, and conducting basic textile technology and standard training in China.

4. Support industry associations in conducting people-to-people exchanges and providing relevant services for Lancang-Mekong textile industry cooperation

It is suggested that relevant departments support the China National Textile and Apparel Council in playing its role through the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Fund project, etc., to conduct communication and exchange at the level of industry organizations of the six countries, and to provide services to government departments and enterprises in aspects such as planning Lancang-Mekong textile industry cooperation, building trade and investment information data platforms, undertaking training in China, and promoting the implementation of border and overseas investment projects.