CIFIT event reaffirms China's commitment to global investment cooperation

The first promotion event for the 26th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) is held in Beijing, May 13, 2026. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

The first promotion event for the 26th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) was held in Beijing on Wednesday, presenting the latest preparations and highlights of this year's fair and reaffirming China's commitment to high-level opening up.

More than 260 representatives from embassies in China, overseas institutions, international organizations, foreign-funded enterprises and financial institutions from nearly 40 countries attended the event.

Hosted by China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), CIFIT is the country's only national-level international exposition dedicated to investment and carries the permanent theme of "Expanding Two-Way Investment and Promoting Global Development." The 26th edition will take place in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian province, from Sept. 8-11.

This year's fair will feature three major sections — "Invest in China," "China Investment" and "International Investment" — along with dedicated exhibition areas for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and a capital matchmaking pavilion. A series of activities, including multinational corporation dialogues and cross-border project matchmaking events, will also be organized to facilitate international investment cooperation.

Speaking at the promotion event, Wu Di, deputy director-general of the Department of Foreign Investment Administration at MOFCOM, said China will continue expanding market access and opening up, particularly in the services sector, while improving protections and support for foreign-invested enterprises.

Wu said China welcomes foreign businesses to tap into and share in the country's enormous market potential and strong development momentum, adding that the country will continue promoting international investment cooperation and mutually beneficial development through greater openness.

Yang Hao from the Department of Outward Investment and Economic Cooperation of MOFCOM introduced the "Cloud CIFIT" smart conference system, saying the platform will integrate artificial intelligence technologies to facilitate more targeted project matchmaking and provide digital services such as smart navigation and seamless interaction.

The digital system is expected to further enhance the efficiency, convenience and sustainability of the fair, while helping participants better connect with investment opportunities, according to Yang.

As this year's guest country of honor, Finland also presented its business environment and cooperation opportunities at the event.

Melissa Saila, minister-counsellor of the Finnish Embassy in China, said Finland and China maintain strong and enduring economic, trade and investment ties, with around 250 Finnish companies currently operating in China.

She said Finland's strengths in the circular economy, energy transition, digital innovation and advanced manufacturing complement China's vast market and dynamic industrial ecosystem, creating new opportunities for sustainable development and industrial cooperation.

The event came during U.S. President Donald Trump's state visit to China from May 13-15, which has drawn international attention to bilateral economic ties and their implications for global markets and supply chains.

Bashir Modanov, a former economic researcher at the UAE Embassy in China, speaks with China.org.cn during the promotion event in Beijing, May 13, 2026. [Photo by Xu Xiaoxuan/China.org.cn]

Bashir Modanov, a former economic researcher at the UAE Embassy in China, said CIFIT can help showcase China's development in areas including finance, investment and high-quality manufacturing, while enabling international participants to break stereotypes and gain a clearer understanding of the country's evolving economic landscape.

He added that global markets are closely watching developments in China-U.S. economic relations during President Trump's visit, noting that the world economy is deeply intertwined with China, particularly through supply chains, and that interactions between the two major economies could have broad implications for global growth.