(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-03 19:11

BEIJING  -- China is endeavoring to compile its first quality "dictionary" for suitcase and bag export companies, Wang Zhongqi,China Chamber of Commerce for Imports and Exports of Light Industrial Products and Arts-Crafts (CCCLA) vice president told Xinhua on Monday.

At an expert and entrepreneur panel workshop organized by the CCCLA over the weekend in Shanghai, discussion centered on formulating the country's first technical guidance booklet for suitcase and bag export companies. This was seen as a preemptive move by the government and the industry to enhance the quality of exported goods.

"To compile a useful technical guidance booklet can give tangible help to those export companies and is conducive to the industry's development for the long run," said Wang, adding the long-term aim was to build a better "made in China" image.

The booklet would cover the quality and safety standards differences between domestic and overseas markets, important technical regulations, testing procedures and industry standards of main target markets, and how to deal with the technical barriers in global trade.

As the world's largest suitcase and bag manufacturer, China exported 10.81 billion US dollars of product globally in 2007, up 24.21 percent year on year, said Huang Daqi, China Chamber of Commerce for Imports and Exports of Suitcases and Bags secretary general.

The country's exported suitcases and bags accounted for more than 33 percent of the global market. The United States and the European Union were the major customers, added Huang.

Suitcase and bag exports to the United States in 2007 stood at 2.85 billion US dollars, while the European Union topped 2.83 billion US dollars.

"The toy recall incident last year tarnished the image of 'made in China' products, so it is crucial for us to take preventive measures on the quality control on Chinese suitcase and bag exports," Shi Lili, a Ministry of Commerce Department of Foreign Trade official told Xinhua.

Yang Wanshan, a General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) official, said although suitcases and bags were not subject to legal inspection domestically, it was better to take precautions rather than receive complaints from overseas customers first.