??27th June, the fifth in the series of 2007 China International Cotton Conference opened in Urumqi, about 800 delegates attend this conference,including more than 200 from overseas.

??Zhou Shentao, President of China Cotton Association (CCA), made a keynote speech. First,he described the conference theme, "The Chinese Cotton Industry under WTO and its Implications for the Global Market", then gave an overview of recent developments and government policies affecting China’s cotton and textile industries.

??After that,Ray Butler, managing director of Cotlook Limited, mmade a presentation on "World cotton market – Overview of short-term developments";ShiJianwei,executive vice-president of CCA on "Analysis and outlook for the Chinese cotton demand and supply in the short run";Carol Skelly, World Agricultural Outlook Board, USDA on "Prospects for US cotton production and consumption";Joe Nicosia, Allenberg Cotton Company on "Short-term market prospects and price movement ";Burton Levin, NOBLE Group on "Managing the global cotton supply chain";Kamalov,first Deputy Minister of the Uzbekistan Foreign Trade Ministry on "Cotton production and trade in Uzbekistan";James Johnson, Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA on"Prospects for the 2007 U.S. Farm Bill";Larry McClendon?National Cotton Council of USA on"The role of NCC in developing the US cotton industry";Matthias Knappe, International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO on"Organic cotton: an opportunity for trade";East Indian Cotton Association on "Short-term outlook for Indian cotton production and consumption".

??The conference began in 1999 and is organised by the China Cotton Association, the Research Centre for Rural Economy (RCRE) of the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and the China National Cotton Exchange (CNCE), in cooperation with Cotton Outlook (Cotlook Limited), the China Cotton Trade Association and the National Cotton Council of America.