Eight Chinese cotton industry leaders visited the U.S. Cotton Belt to learn more about the U.S. cotton industry. The China Cotton Assoc. (CCA) executive delegation’s visit follows the successful 2006 NCC Leadership Exchange delegation to China, the 2007 NCC Quality Team to China delegation and 2007 U.S. Cotton Belt Tour by CCA, a 2008 NCC leadership team visit to China, a 2009 U.S. Cotton Belt Tour by CCA, and a 2010 NCC leadership team visit to China.

The Oct. 31-Nov. 5 CCA visit to the U.S. Cotton Belt was the third since the establishment of the U.S.-China Cotton Leadership Exchange Program by the NCC and the CCA. The exchange between the two countries was established by a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2006 that promised cooperation between the countries’ cotton industries.

Sponsored by the NCC, Cotton Council International (CCI) and The Cotton Foundation, the tour had stops in Washington, D.C., Memphis, Tenn., and Lubbock, Texas, and included briefings by the NCC, CCI and USDA. The delegation participated in a Mid-South cotton industry seminar on cotton production, processing and logistics, toured a Memphis warehouse operation, a W. Tennessee farm and gin operation and the USDA classing office in Bartlett, Tenn. While in the Lubbock area, the group participated in a Southwest cotton industry seminar on cotton production, processing and logistics. They also toured cotton farms, a gin, a compress and a cottonseed oil mill as well as the USDA Agricultural Research Service Ginning Research Laboratory.

The CCA, which was modeled after the NCC to include all segments of the Chinese cotton industry, is a non-profit organization voluntarily established by cotton farmers; cotton farmer cooperatives; enterprises engaged in cotton production, purchasing, processing and operation; cotton textile enterprises; cotton research institutes; and other institutions. The CCA is supervised by the Ministry of Civil Affairs and reports to the All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives.