The "Golden Key" statue at the Xiamen International Expo Center. [Photo provided to fao.xm.gov.cn]
The 26th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) closed on Sept 11 in Xiamen, Fujian province.
This year's fair drew more than 1,200 government agencies and business delegations from 129 countries and regions and 30 international organizations. Forty-eight of the world's top 50 economies by GDP were represented. Total attendance exceeded 100,000, with both the number of participating countries and the number of delegations reaching record highs.
Expanding global circle
For the first time, CIFIT named two Guest Countries of Honor — Finland and Saudi Arabia — and two Guest Provinces of Honor, Guangdong and Qinghai.
Finland brought 42 companies and institutions, including KONE, UPM, and Nokia. Saudi Arabia sent 186, among them Saudi Aramco, SABIC, and the Public Investment Fund. With broad participation from international organizations, investment promotion agencies, multinationals, financial institutions, and business associations, the fair's global network continued to grow.
Bridging two-way investment
The fair hosted 46 themed events and 52 project roadshows, including a multinational investment trends briefing, RCEP economic and trade matchmaking sessions, and a dialogue on industrial and supply chain cooperation. Eighteen additional events, such as the International Investment Forum and the Gulangyu Forum, were held alongside the fair.
The Financial Area expanded to 25,000 square meters, with 140 participating institutions. A dedicated zone for the Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) drew 74 global systemically important banks and leading regional banks from 46 countries and regions across six continents.
Spotlighting frontier industries
This year's CIFIT spotlighted fields such as AI and the low-altitude economy, with dedicated zones for new quality productive forces and international cooperation among specialized and innovative enterprises.
Through live demonstrations, hands-on experiences, and scenario showcases, the fair presented innovations including robotics, smart equipment, and industrial large models. A Green China Area and related industry matchmaking events highlighted new technologies, achievements, and opportunities in the low-carbon sector.
Building a stronger platform
This year's CIFIT moved to the Xiamen International Expo Center for the first time, expanding exhibition space from 120,000 to 200,000 square meters.
The first-ever Premium Goods Collection Area combined product displays, procurement matchmaking, and cultural exchange, while digital platforms hosted 968 virtual booths, over 4,700 projects, and more than 19,000 online matchmaking sessions.
The fair also released 28 authoritative reports, including the China Two-Way Investment Report 2026, offering insight into China's investment climate and global capital trends.
China has extended its 240-hour visa-free transit policy and Hainan's 30-day visa-free entry policy to citizens of Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam, the National Immigration Administration said on Aug 20.
