The 22nd China International Fair for Investment and Trade opens in Xiamen, Fujian province, on Sept 8, 2022. [Photo/VCG]
The 23rd China International Fair for Investment and Trade, scheduled to run from September 8 to 11 in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province, will provide multinational corporations with insights into global investment trends and facilitate their search for fresh growth opportunities in China, said a senior government official on Tuesday.
Chen Chunjiang, assistant minister of commerce, said Brazil, Serbia, and Qatar will be the guests of honor for the upcoming fair this year, marking the highest number of guest countries in a single edition.
Currently, nearly 40 senior foreign government officials have confirmed their attendance. The fair's organizers anticipate that representatives from nearly 100 countries and regions, nearly 1,000 trade and business delegations, and about 80,000 participants will take part in the grand event.
Several international organizations including the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization will be in attendance, reflecting an increase in both quantity and level of participation compared to previous editions, said Chen.
The total exhibition area of the fair this year is 120,000 square meters, featuring specialized exhibitions on popular industries, such as smart manufacturing, digital economy, green and low-carbon technologies, and rural revitalization.
The commerce ministry and other government branches will host a series of events during the fair, focusing on green development in cross-border investment cooperation. These activities aim to actively explore new areas of open collaboration and establish a platform for cross-border investment services for Chinese companies, he added.
China's outbound direct investment is poised to maintain an upward trajectory in the first seven months of 2023. The country saw outbound direct investment surge by 18.1 percent year-on-year to 500.94 billion yuan ($68.74 billion) during this period, according to data from the Ministry of Commerce.
China announced and implemented on May 15 a policy allowing visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups aboard cruise ships via all cruise ship ports along the country's coastline.
China and Georgia are set to waive visa requirements for travelers starting May 28.
