1. Assist Member Units in Purchasing Anti-epidemic Materials

COVID-19 continued to spread all over the world, and the main silk producers and consumers were affected to varying degrees. Since March 2020, International Silk Union (ISU) has learned about the status quo and difficulties faced by member units through questionnaires, emails, and telephones, and used the advantages of platform to assist member units in responding to the epidemic. Zhang Guoqiang, chairman of ISU, sent a greeting letters to Stefano Vitali, vice chairman of ISU and president of Italian Silk Office, Xavier Lepingle, vice chairman of ISU, president of INTERSOIE France, and general manager of Holding Textile Hermès, Renata Amano, vice chairman of ISU and president of Brazilian Silk Association, and presented silk masks and other epidemic prevention materials, hoping to overcome the epidemic together and everything is going well.

Facing various uncertainties in the international market, on March 15, Xavier Lepingle sought help from ISU to import a batch of disposable medical masks from China, hoping to help find reliable suppliers and ensure smooth customs clearance. After the multi-channel contact and docking, strict selection of supplier qualifications by ISU, chairman unit Cathaya Group help to find the suppliers and assist export. On April 10, Holdings Textile Hermès successfully received the mask, the import price was reasonable, the product qualifications were good, and the order was handed over seamlessly, ensuring the smooth recovery and production of the enterprise.

2. Carry out the Survey of the "Impact of COVID-19 on International Silk Industry and Consumer Market Trends"

Since 2020, some of the ISU activities have been restricted, in order to study the future trends of international silk industry and consumer market, ISU carried out the survey of  "Impact of COVID-19 on International Silk Industry and Consumer Market Trends" among the  silk enterprises and related units in more than 10 silk producing and consuming countries including China, Italy, Japan, Brazil, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, etc. The questionnaire covers the basic information of the enterprise, and the impact of COVID-19 on the enterprise and international silk industry. Through the analysis and summary of the silk production/consumption data, response measures, and expert opinions of participating countries and regions, 41 pages of Chinese and English bilingual research report is formed, released on the "World Silk Website", as well as submitted to relevant government departments and industry organizations. On May 19, Union of International Associations (UIA) official website published the ISU survey report, the report has been recognized and further spread on the international authoritative platform.

3. ISU is Included in the Yearbook of International Organizations of UIA

In May 2020, after layers of approval and qualification recognition, ISU is included in the Yearbook of International Organizations of UIA, and was identified as a Type C organization (Intercontinental membership organizations), becoming the first silk international organization in the yearbook that the secretariat locates in China. UIA's paying attention and recognition to ISU, and regarding ISU as the formal international organization, will further strengthen the deeper and more diverse interaction between ISU and international organizations and platforms, promote the cooperation process of docking with international associations, social groups, government departments and multinational enterprises, enhance the information sharing in the silk industry. Department of Commerce of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Municipal Government and its relevant departments spoke highly of the further improvement of ISU international influence, "The event has greatly enhanced the international influence of Hangzhou silk industry and the city, which should be fully affirmed," said Hu Wei, deputy mayor of Hangzhou Municipal Government.

4. Assist China National Silk Museum Holding "2020 Silk Road Week"

"2020 Silk Road Week" was organized by National Cultural Heritage Administration, People’s Government of Zhejiang Province, undertook by Zhejiang Provincial Government Information Office, Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, and Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau, executive organized by China National Silk Museum (NSM), and International Centre for Silk Road and Intercultural Communication, co-organized by International Silk Union, International Association for the study of Silk Road Textile, and Alliance of Silk Road Cultural Heritage Science and Technology. ISU assisted the "Silk Road Week" to formulate the "Management Measures for Franchised Merchants/Products and Designated Souvenirs", docked with designated souvenirs, published the magazine with the cover of "Silk Road Week", and released the "Invitation to the Activity Franchised Merchants and International Silk Boutique Exhibition". On June 19, 2020, the opening ceremony of "2020 Silk Road Week" home event was held at the NSM. Zhang Guoqiang, chairman of ISU, and Li Qizheng, secretary-general of ISU, were invited to attend the opening ceremony.

5. Jointly Held "International Silk Boutique Exhibition -- Silk Road Splendid" with NSM

"International Silk Boutique Exhibition-- Silk Road Splendid" is organized by International Silk Union and China National Silk Museum. As one of the home exhibitions of "2020 Silk Road Week", this International Silk Boutique Exhibition invited 6 companies (brands) from Laos, Cambodia and China, including Mulberries, Kei Meas, Cathaya, Jingluntang, High Fashion and Canyuan. At the exhibition, more than 50 exhibits with brand and geographical representation were exhibited, aiming to promote communication in the field of silk culture in various countries and regions of the world. Through the display of silk road brand boutiques, the broad and profound silk culture is reflected. The exhibition lasts for 3 months.

6. "2019 International Silk Union Members Assembly" was Selected as "Top 10" Cultural Events of Annual Report of Silk Road Cultural Heritage 2019

On June 19, 2020, "Top 10" Silk Road Cultural Events of Annual Report of Silk Road Cultural Heritage 2019 were officially released at the opening ceremony of "2020 Silk Road Week", and the 2019 International Silk Union Members Assembly held by ISU in Hangzhou, China, was also successfully selected as "Top 10" Cultural Events.

The Silk Road Cultural Events in Annual Report of Silk Road Cultural Heritage 2019 were selected 900 important events from 74,000 events related to the Silk Road. After human assistance, 125 related major cultural events was further selected. What’s more, considering the frequency of major events, network popularity, industry influence, media exposure and other factors, 8 international experts finally selected the "Top 10" Silk Road Cultural Events according to the voting results. The "Top 10" Cultural Events cover China, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Colombia, Iran, Philippines, Azerbaijan and other countries, conveying the exchange and mutual learning of Silk Road culture across borders, races and civilizations, showing the diversity of Silk Road culture civilization.

7. Investigate the Impact of COVID-19 on Various Silk Industrial Processing

In the first half of 2020, ISU secretariat visited China Cocoon & Silk Exchange (raw silk exchange market), China Silk Town in Hangzhou (silk fabric wholesale market), Suhang Shouzhan (silk clothing wholesale market), some scenic spots and street merchants (silk tourism souvenir market) with Zhejiang Silk Association, understood the specific impact of the COVID-19 on various industrial processing, and provided suggestions for the policy formulation of related departments and the resumption of production of silk enterprises.

China Cocoon & Silk Exchange          Administrative Committee of China Silk Town in Hangzhou

8. Initially Establish the Media Matrix of World Silk Website

In 2020, "World Silk Website", as the official website of ISU, practices the operating philosophy of "Communication & Cooperation, Development with Concerted Efforts", strengthens and improves the construction of local reporter stations, newly established the "World Silk Website - Nanchong Reporter Station", "Impact of COVID-19 on International Silk Industry and Consumer Market Trends", "Silk Road Week", "Silk Story" and other columns. At the same time, making full use of self-media channels, on the basis of the original official website and public account, added the Toutiao, Sohu, Baijia, and Penguin. Through the authorization of synchronous public account, the content is updated synchronously, and the media matrix of World Silk Website is initially established, realizes the multi-channel promotion, attracts more users and visits, and expands the audience.

World Silk Website - Nanchong Reporter Station  

In the first half of 2020, world silk website totally published nearly 200 articles, including 150 Chinese and 50 English. The visits to the website are about 16500, in which Chinese version attracts 13000 and English website 2000. We-chat public account published 130 articles, the whole reading amount is more than 100000, the highest amount of single reading is nearly 2000, subscribers are more than 7500. The cumulative reading volume of other self-media is about 290000 times.

 Media matrix of World Silk Website

9. Daily Work of ISU Secretariat

In the first half of 2020, ISU secretariat handled a total of 125 emails, including 105 English and 20 Chinese, mainly to send Chinese industrial development situation and trade data to foreign member units, exchange information and condolences with member units during the epidemic, assist foreign member units to docking anti-epidemic materials, issue research notices and recall questionnaires, contact exhibitors of the International Silk Boutique Exhibition, and self construct of ISU secretariat, etc. At the same time, ISU secretariat designed and produced a Chinese and English version of the ISU brochure, which comprehensively introduced the development of ISU since its establishment through intuitive graphics to facilitate readers.

PDF | Brochure of ISU

中文：http://worldsilk.com.cn/static/upload/file/20200612/1591935734506673.pdf

ENGLISH：http://worldsilk.com.cn/static/upload/file/20200612/1591934942379624.pdf