China Chamber of Intl Commerce sets 2026 priorities at annual meeting

The China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC) held its 2025 Council Meeting in Beijing on Wednesday, drawing more than 900 representatives from Chinese and international enterprises and institutions to both in-person and virtual sessions.

In his address, Ren Hongbin, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the CCOIC, reviewed achievements from the past year and outlined strategic priorities for the year ahead. He emphasized the chamber's role in advancing international economic cooperation and supporting businesses navigating global challenges.

Ren Hongbin addresses the 2025 Council Meeting of the China Chamber of International Commerce in Beijing, China, Jan. 28, 2026. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Ren highlighted that in 2025, the CCOIC helped Chinese companies expand globally by organizing overseas trade missions, procurement activities and participation in international exhibitions in more than 20 countries and regions. The efforts aimed to help enterprises access new markets and strengthen international supply chains.

Through its Working Committee on Foreign-Invested Enterprises, the chamber organized site visits last year for more than 200 foreign-funded companies to key Chinese provinces, including Guangdong, Heilongjiang and Fujian. The visits aimed to foster cooperation and enhance dialogue between foreign investors and local partners.

Looking to 2026, Ren outlined plans to continue hosting international trade events. He said key initiatives will leverage China's role as host of the 2026 APEC meeting and a planned second China-Arab States Summit, with the chamber organizing business forums, policy dialogues and matchmaking sessions.

He also noted that the CCOIC will deepen collaboration with overseas business associations and international organizations across multilateral frameworks, including the China-Central Asia, China-ASEAN and China-Latin America cooperation platforms.

The chamber will strengthen regular communication with foreign chambers of commerce, multinational corporations and international organizations "to support the implementation of high-quality foreign investment projects and help global companies thrive in and from China," he said.

The council meeting also featured a session on foreign investment services during China's 15th Five-Year Plan period. During the exchange, foreign diplomats, heads of international business associations and senior executives from multinational corporations discussed ways to enhance trade promotion and foreign investment support.