Industry players showed increasing interest in international cooperation at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2018 and believed by doing so they would overcome difficulties caused by negative impacts such as trade disputes. They are strengthening their competitiveness through cooperation with their international counterparts and competitors. An example is that of Switzerland-based Oerlikon, which declared during the exhibition that its nonwoven business unit will work with China-based Hunan Shaoyang Textile Machinery (Shaoyang), a subsidiary of the state-owned China Hi-Tech Group Corporation (CHTC), for selling spunmelt nonwoven lines for hygiene applications to markets outside China. Oerlikon will contribute its know-how in plant engineering and acquire CE (Conformité Européene) certifications for Shaoyang's production and export of spunmelt lines, and will also be responsible for the product and process guarantees and provide customer service outside China.