Xinjiang Party Secretary Again Calls for Less Cotton
Source: globecotnews Date: 2008-03-11
Mr. Wang Lequan, Party Secretary and Chairman of the Xinjiang autonomous region, is a person of high stature in China's largest province. During last week's CPPCC Conference, Mr. Wang Lequan gave a speech regarding the Xinjiang cotton industry, suggesting that China should reduce its emphasis on textile exports. He stated that the cheaply-priced Chinese textile products only bring marginal profits for mills and causes frequent trade battles; instead, Chinese companies should focus on increased production of high-end products.
As to Xinjiang cotton acreage, Mr. Lequan stated that any further expansion in cotton acreage would have a negative impact on the provincial agricultural sector, and has emphasized in several of his most recent speeches that Xinjiang farmers and the powerful Production and Construction Corps (PCC) should plant less cotton. Cotton acreage in Xinjiang should be reduced back to 20 million mu and be replaced with other crops such as grains.
