On March 18, diplomatic envoys to China from countries including Fiji, Nauru, Samoa, and Solomon Islands, along with consular officials in Guangzhou from countries including Indonesia, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, visited Shantou, Guangdong Province. The delegation attended the 5th China Chaoshan International Textile and Garment Exhibition (CTGE) to explore potential partnerships in the textile and apparel sector.
The opening presentation left a strong impression. Lashinka Dammullage, Consul General of Sri Lanka in Guangzhou, described it as "a very impressive, mesmerizing performance." She noted that the show was organized around five thematic elements, fire, water, metal, and wood, and said, "Those kinds of thematic sessions were attracting us, the audience. So it was really an impressive performance by the Chaoshan textile industry."
For Dammullage, the visit carried particular significance. Sri Lanka is renowned for its garment sector, with an export target of eight billion US dollars by 2030. "We, as the government and our industry together, are working very hard to promote our apparel and garment industry back in the country," she explained. Dressed in a hand-woven saree that preserves traditional elements, she emphasized openness to innovation: "We are very welcoming of the technology and how innovative ideas can elevate our industry. So we are very open to cooperation with other countries as well, especially with Shantou."
Innovation meets practicality
Chitra Talat. Jeremiah, Ambassador of Nauru to China, was struck by how the expo transcended conventional expectations. "I think most people, when they think about the performance—because it's a textile and intimate wear performance—would think that it will focus more on just the fabrics themselves," she said. "But it was very inclusive. It included the cultural elements, the AI experience that China has, and it was just, I think, very innovative."
She also noted the practical appeal of Shantou's textile products for Pacific island markets. "The products they have here, the material, the textiles—it's all new. It just incorporates a lot of the elements that are used in the Pacific, like the quick-drying, wicking, breathable products. So I think those are very, very relevant to the Pacific Islands." She expressed hope for deeper collaboration: "If we can get the Pacific elements into the materials here, that would be very, very good. I would encourage that."
A textile hub on the rise
The 5th CTGE, being held from March 18 to 20 at the Shantou International Convention and Exhibition Center, drew tens of thousands of visitors. The previous edition attracted 121,000 professional attendees in just three days. At the heart of this year's expo stood the Shantou International Textile City, whose iconic circular pavilion became a focal point for domestic and international buyers.
A timeline inside the pavilion traced the evolution of Shantou's textile industry over four decades—from manual weaving through mechanization to today's large-scale, integrated modern industrial system. The textile city itself represents a natural extension of the expo model: after viewing samples, buyers can visit factories directly to inspect production lines and capacity, leading up to industrial momentum.
The market now brings together hundreds of source fabric suppliers, forming a complete supply chain from raw materials through weaving, dyeing, and finishing to finished products. This integration gives Shantou a competitive edge in cost control, quality assurance, and delivery efficiency.
Shantou's nylon and spandex fabrics now cover the full spectrum of products, including underwear, T-shirts, business wear, loungewear, yoga wear, swimwear, and home textiles, earning the city its reputation as a go-to destination for knitted fabrics and strengthening its identity as "China's Elastic Fabric City."
Growing trade ties
China's trade with island nations continues to expand. In 2025, China's trade with Latin America grew steadily, while bilateral figures with specific island nations also showed momentum: trade with the Bahamas reached US$906.8 million, with exports accounting for the vast majority; trade with the Marshall Islands totaled US$523.1 million, overwhelmingly driven by Chinese exports.
For Theresia Shanel, a diplomat from the Embassy of the Solomon Islands in China, this was her first visit to a textile company. "I am impressed by the work that has been put out here, and this is something that we can cooperate with," she said. She noted the significance of seeing a family business that started 20 years ago and continues to thrive.
Looking ahead, she plans to report back to her government: "Now we see where it comes from, and we can reach out to the factories and reach out to the textile city, and we can have our people come here to look for themselves. They can communicate with the suppliers and design their own products. I believe there is great potential for cooperation in this area."
Reporter: Guo Zedong
Photo: Guo Zedong
Video: Pan Jiajun
Video cover: Lai Meiya
