The largest and best cashmere goat breeding farms are located on grasslands in Inner Mongolia.

Many leading cashmere processing companies have relocated from Europe and Japan by establishing joint venture companies with the latest modern equipment.

Travel was undertaken to:
 

1. Visit the leading cashmere processing company Erdos Cashmere Group, Eerduosi City, Inner Mongolia.
2. Inspect the facilities of the China National Engineering and Technology Research Centre for Cashmere Products.
3. Attend the 3rd International Cashmere Determination Technique Symposium.
4. Present scientific papers on Australian cashmere research.
5. Establish dialogue about cashmere research with the aim of establishing professional contact for joint research and further interchange of knowledge and skills.

The conference scientific presentations were attended by 115 scientists with 65 registered for the cashmere determination and measurement workshop. The author prepared four scientific papers addressing priority issues for the conference and three were presented. Important presentations by Chinese scientists addressed the critical issue of cashmere fundamental fibre surface properties. New knowledge in classifying cashmere fibre morphology was explained. New potential methods were also discussed but need further research. The evidence for a new test method for determining pilling propensity in cashmere fabrics was presented. New proposals for measuring cashmere crimp and cashmere fibre length were made by this author. Suggestions to overcome marketing difficulties of Chinese cashmere were also made.

Very informative visits were made to the new China National Engineering and Technology Research Centre, to the Erdos Cashmere Group Industrial Park and associated subsidiaries and to the Inner Mogolia Arbls White Cashmere Goat Breeding Station situated 235 km west of Eerduosi City.

Benefits include the following:
 

1. Opportunity to publish cashmere research in the best international cashmere forum.
2. Exposure of Australian science and technology to the Chinese cashmere industry.
3. Networking with leading Chinese and International cashmere textile scientists with a good potential to establish further working contacts and collaboration.
4. Up date on developments in cashmere textile and measurement science.
5. Learning opportunity on new processing methods and equipment.
6. Production update from one of the leading cashmere studs in Inner Mongolia.

 The following activities are recommended:
 

1. Maintain awareness of future International Cashmere Determination Technique Symposia and make plans to attend.
2. Encourage submission of technical papers to future International Cashmere Determination Technique Symposia.
3. Develop opportunities for future research collaboration.
4. Consider hosting visits by Chinese scientists if they visit Australia for other functions such as IWTO meetings.