17 March 2009

The 3 major natural rubber producing countries, namely Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, under the auspices of the International Tripartite Rubber Council (ITRC) had their ever first dialogue with the China Rubber Industry Association (CRIA) on 17 March 2009 in Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.

Noting that the 3 ITRC countries collectively produced more than 70% of the world's natural rubber and that the People's Republic of China is the biggest importer and consumer of natural rubber, this first meeting of these two bodies is certainly historic.

This first dialogue is the culmination of the ITRC's effort in forming and developing a forum between producers and consumers for natural rubber in its continuous objective of stabilizing and sustaining natural rubber prices at a balanced supply demand equation that are both remunerative  to the producers and fair to the consumers.

Included on the agenda of this first dialogue was the exchange of information and statistics, resolutions for non-performances of contracts and the framework for future cooperation and meetings.

It was agreed that the next dialogue be conducted in a member country of the ITRC and that both the Secretariats of the ITRC and CRIA be in constant communication for the exchange of information and statistics to update each other in the development of the rubber industry within their own markets and countries.

The ITRC delegation representing public and private interests in the natural rubber industry from Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia was led by the ITRC Chairman, Mr. Somchai Charnnarongkul, whilst the CRIA's delegation was led by its President, Mr. Fan Ren De.