澜湄沿线六国经济发展与纺织服装业价值链(英文)
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3.The status quo of the textile and clothing value chains in the LM region

Textile and clothing trade by the LM countries occupies a considerable share in the global landscape. Textile and clothing exports by the LM countries account for more than 40% of the world’s total, an indicator of the competitive advantage of the six countries in the industry. The products exported by the LM region are primarily clothing, and those imported are mainly raw textile materials. This fact reflects that the region is an important production base on the global textile and clothing value chains, because it leverages imported raw textile materials to produce clothing products that are then exported to other countries and regions. By observing the participation of the six countries in the value chains of the textile and clothing industry, we have drawn the conclusion that the more a country participates in regional textile and clothing value chains, the better it can participate in global value chains, because through in-depth participation in the region, it may gain a better position in global value chains. In this regard, participation in the global division of labour has a magnifying effect compared to that in the regional division of labour. Raw textile materials, textile products and clothing products constitute the upstream, midstream and downstream production links of the textile and clothing industry respectively. Therefore, the proportion of exports of these products reflects where a country stands in the value chains. At the global level, all the LM countries except Thailand, which is in the midstream of the value chains, are in a downstream position. At the regional level, Vietnam, Thailand and China are in an upstream position, whilst Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar are in a downstream position. Of the three countries in the upstream, Thailand and China provide a larger proportion of textile products than Vietnam, which focuses more on exporting clothing products. Considering that the cotton exported by Vietnam is imported from other countries and regions, it may be more appropriate to situate Vietnam in the downstream of the value chains. From the above, it can be seen that each LM country has a different position with regard to the global and regional levels. At the global level, all six countries are in a midstream or downstream position in the textile and clothing value chains and they therefore compete with one another. However, at the regional level, the division of labour among the countries is clear and complementary, making it a better area in which to seek cooperation. In terms of existing capabilities for developing the textile and clothing industry, China is the best, followed by Vietnam and Thailand, and then Cambodia and Myanmar, then Laos. Therefore, it is necessary to give full play to China’s leading and driving role and to make good use of the strengths of Vietnam and Thailand in the textile and clothing industry, in an effort to promote the development of the industry in Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos, and ultimately to enable an upgrade of the entire regional value chain.