The 25th China International Fair for Investment and Trade was held on Sept 8 to11 in Xiamen, Southeast China's Fujian province. [ftz.xm.gov.cn]
The 25th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) concluded on Sept 11 in Xiamen, Southeast China's Fujian province. The 4-day event attracted more than 80,000 visitors and resulted in the signing of agreements on 1,154 investment projects, with a total planned investment of 644 billion yuan ($90.2 billion).
This year's fair covered a total exhibition area of 120,000 square meters and attracted participants from 123 countries and regions, with over 1,100 government agencies and business delegations in attendance.
Featuring three major exhibition sections — "Invest in China", "Chinese Investment" and "International Investment", the event strategically bridged investment promotion entities, investment projects and leading industrial enterprises.
During the event, 80 investment-themed activities were held, and 32 authoritative reports were released. Notably, the corporate outbound investment activity index was published for the first time, providing global investors with valuable insights and references for their decision-making.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the fair on Sept 8, Vice-Premier He Lifeng emphasized CIFIT's role as a crucial platform for promoting two-way investment. He described it as a bridge linking China with the world and sharing the opportunities brought about by China's modernization with the global community.
The United Kingdom, this year's guest country of honor, sent its largest-ever delegation to the fair. British Ambassador to China, Peter Wilson, emphasized the critical importance of UK-China cooperation in an increasingly uncertain world, saying “We look forward to expanding bilateral trade and investment between the UK and China."
Pedro Manuel Moreno, deputy secretary-general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, highlighted the fair's significance against a backdrop of rising trade barriers and challenges to globalization, which, he said, have led to a slowdown in cross-border investment, particularly affecting developing countries. He described CIFIT as a vital platform for building partnerships, translating ideas into action, and fostering cooperation over division.
Djauhari Oratmangun, Indonesian ambassador to China, welcomed high-quality Chinese investment in Indonesia's mining, agriculture and fisheries, digital trade, and smart logistics sectors. The countries' partnership has achieved significant success, and future evaluations will be based not only on trade and investment volumes but also on investment quality, he said.
Nearly 90 countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative participated in this year's fair. Countries such as Hungary, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Serbia set up national pavilions.
Jim Yong Kim, vice-chairman of Global Infrastructure Partners and former president of the World Bank, noted that CIFIT's development reflects China's integration with the world and shared growth with global partners. He acknowledged China's role as a significant driver of economic growth in Belt and Road countries, as well as in the Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Africa regions.
Exhibitions at 25th China International Fair for Investment and Trade. [Photo provided toftz.xm.gov.cn]
The Xiamen International Conference & Exhibition Center, the main venue of the 25th China International Fair for Investment and Trade. [Photo provided to ftz.xm.gov.cn]
China has launched a new pilot program to allow eligible enterprises greater access to overseas financing in support of green and low-carbon transformation projects, the country's foreign exchange regulator said on Aug 21.
To further streamline the experience, China is expanding tax refund stores, broadening the range of refundable goods, and refining refund procedures, ensuring an efficient and seamless shopping experience for global visitors.
