Forging ahead tirelessly and diligently, striving to write a new chapter in the development of China's sewing machinery industry in the new era - Speech by President Yang Xiaojing at the 40th Anniversary Commemorative Conference of the China Sewing Machinery Association

Today, with hearts full of joy, we gather here to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the China Sewing Machinery Association, to share the great achievements of the industry's growth, and to look forward to a bright future. On behalf of the China Sewing Machinery Association, I would like to express my sincere respect to the leaders of the China Light Industry Federation, the leaders of various national ministries and commissions, and the leaders of relevant associations in the industry chain for their care and support for the development of the industry and the construction of the association over the past 40 years. I would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the veteran leaders and experts in the industry who have silently cultivated the industry and made outstanding contributions to achieving the national strengthening goals, and to all our members!

Forty years is but a fleeting moment in the long river of human history; however, for the Sewing Machinery Association, it represents an extraordinary period of development. Over these four decades, the Association has always upheld the leadership of the Party, deepened its 'four services,' cultivated brand work, strengthened its own construction, and sailed through storms and weathered hardships together with its member enterprises, jointly creating a magnificent chapter in the history of China's sewing machinery industry:

Forty years of journey, a history of carrying the torch and striving hard. Since its establishment in November 1984, the China Sewing Machinery Association, rooted in the industry, has led the industry from small to large, from weak to strong, building the world's most advanced and complete sewing machinery industry chain system. It has achieved remarkable accomplishments, including leading the world in industry scale, accounting for over 85% of the global industrial sewing equipment market, possessing over 20,000 core technological achievements and invention patents, and achieving globally leading scientific research capabilities and manufacturing levels. Over the past four decades, under the leadership of successive chairmen Zhang Xiangling, Liang Yuxin, Zhang Chonghe, Wang Fenghe, Tian Minyu, and He Ye, the Association has worked tirelessly and diligently, guided by the principles of "professionalization, marketization, internationalization, and professionalization." It has actively optimized its organizational mechanisms, advanced organizational construction, and successfully built a high-quality association secretariat team. It has established platforms for meeting exchanges, technological promotion, quality improvement, education and training, statistical analysis, exhibitions, and market expansion, enabling the association to become a high-quality model social organization with 6 branch institutions, 2 standardization technical organizations, 1 vocational skills assessment center, and 516 member enterprises. The total revenue of member enterprises accounts for 80% of the entire industry. The Association is trusted by the government, indispensable to enterprises, truly needed by the industry, and influential in society.

Forty years of journey, a history of innovation in service to the nation and fulfilling its mission. For four decades, the Association has taken it as its responsibility to serve the nation, society, the industry, and its members. Driven by innovation and relying on enterprises, it has continuously enhanced its service capabilities and expanded its service areas, successfully pioneering a series of brand projects in areas such as industry party building, data analysis, technological standards, quality brands, talent cultivation, and market development. Whether in implementing national policies and guidelines, advising the government on decision-making, formulating plans for industry revitalization and national development strategies, guiding industry structural adjustments and transformations, undertaking national key scientific research and development tasks, organizing scientific research and development, developing standards, regulating order, expanding markets, promoting technological achievements, conducting international exchanges, cultivating talent, promoting sewing arts culture, or undertaking social responsibilities, the Association has received high praise from the nation, society, and the industry. In the 40 years since its establishment, the Association has received numerous awards, including the National Advanced Non-governmental Organization and the Advanced Collective of the Light Industry Industry. Among the 10 group standards developed by the Association, 4 have been listed as exemplary group standards by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Currently, the Association is also the only industry association in the light industry sector to be awarded the pilot unit for standardized and normalized party branch of industry associations by the Party Building Bureau of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission.

Forty years of journey, a history of forging ahead despite difficulties and never giving up. During the past four decades, the Association and the industry have encountered various difficulties and challenges. Particularly since the beginning of the new century, the global economic situation and industrial competitive landscape have undergone continuous adjustments, and the technological revolution and industrial transformation have coincided historically with China's accelerated shift in its economic development mode. Financial storms, the subprime mortgage crisis, SARS, and the COVID-19 pandemic have posed frequent disruptions. The Association united and led the industry with unwavering resilience and courage, facing various problems and challenges head-on, overcoming difficulties, and seizing historical opportunities. This resulted in the transformation of the entire industry from mainly household appliances to mainly industrial machinery, from imitation to independent innovation in scientific research and development, from mainly domestic markets to the "dual circulation" new development pattern in market sales, and from labor-intensive industries to capital-intensive and technology-intensive industries. The entire industry achieved its national strengthening goals ahead of schedule at the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period, and is currently striding towards the even more ambitious goal of becoming a top-tier power.

Forty years of journey, a history of vigorous governance and inspiring progress. The 40 years of development of the Association is also a microcosm of our nation's reform and opening up and the great process of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. Over the past four decades, the Association's development has participated in and witnessed the grand development plan of the sewing machinery industry, under the leadership of the Party, adhering to its original aspiration and steadily progressing. Looking back at the past, we have achieved remarkable results. We are grateful for the Party's leadership, the progress of the times, the support of higher-level units and partners, and all colleagues who have actively promoted industry development and participated in the construction of the Association. It is because of all of you that we have the Association we have today; the Association is everyone's "home"! Looking to the future, we have a heavy responsibility on our shoulders. The new starting point and new journey require a new mission and new actions. In the process of achieving the grand blueprint of the "two centenary goals," the China Sewing Machinery Association will, as always, uphold its original aspiration, set sail for a new journey, actively play a bridging and coordinating role, and strive to build a modern industry association characterized by democratic management, standardized conduct, self-disciplined development, and scientific management. We will lead the entire industry to achieve a historical leap forward from automation to digitalization and intelligentization.

The road ahead is long, but as long as we walk, we will reach our destination. I believe that, taking the 40th anniversary celebration as an opportunity, and with the joint efforts of all member enterprises, the China Sewing Machinery Association will surely continue to strive forward without fail, showing the new mission and responsibility of Chinese sewing machine professionals in the new journey toward the grand goal of becoming a top-tier power in sewing machinery, and striving to write a new chapter in the development of China's sewing machinery industry in the new era.

*This news is reprinted from: China International Sewing Equipment Exhibition