China, US celebrate 20th anniversary of commercial matchmaking program

The U.S.-China Commercial Matchmaking Program (CMP) 20th Anniversary event, co-hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the U.S. Embassy in China and the International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce, was held in Beijing on Feb. 9.

The U.S.-China Commercial Matchmaking Program (CMP) 20th Anniversary event is held in Beijing, Feb. 9, 2026. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Over 250 representatives from the business sectors of both countries, including Ren Hongbin, chairman of the CCPIT, and David Perdue, U.S. ambassador to China, attended the event.

Ren emphasized that the 20th anniversary of the CMP is a concrete step to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, and an effort to deepen friendship and cooperation between the two business communities. 

The CMP has supported more than 3,000 enterprises from both countries, promoting local and industrial cooperation between China and the United States. Ren noted that the CCPIT will continue to work closely with the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. diplomatic missions in China to elevate the CMP and cooperation between the two business sectors.

Perdue praised the CMP platform and expressed optimism about economic and trade relations between the U.S. and China, despite existing challenges.

During the event, Li Xingqian, vice chairman of the CCPIT, commended five CMP project offices for their contributions to China-U.S. commercial cooperation.

The event also featured a friendly basketball match, with players from embassies and enterprises from both countries competing in a spirit of friendship. 

A friendly basketball match is held during the U.S.-China CMP 20th Anniversary event in Beijing, Feb. 9, 2026. [Photo by Chen Xinyan/China.org.cn]

Since its establishment in 2005, more than 100 economic and trade activities have been organized under the CMP, establishing it as a hallmark of cooperation between the business communities of the two countries.