The 25th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) will be held from September 8 to 11 in Xiamen, Fujian Province in southeast China. It is the country's only national-level event focused exclusively on investment, officials announced during a press conference in Beijing on August 26. 

“The CIFIT plays a vital role in advancing international cooperation across industrial and supply chains,” Ling Ji, Vice Minister of Commerce and Deputy China International Trade Representative, said at the conference. “It’s key to promoting high-level opening-up and driving high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.”     

Fujian, as a core area of the ancient Maritime Silk Road, holds unique historical and strategic significance. The 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative, proposed in 2013, has revitalized this historic route and elevated mutually beneficial cooperation with countries across Asia, Europe, and Africa.     

Themed “Join Hands with China, Invest in the Future,” the 2025 CIFIT will cover three key areas: Investment in China, Chinese Investment and Global Investment.    

The exhibition space will span approximately 120,000 square meters and feature over 70 themed investment events and more than 100 specialized roadshows.    

Delegations from more than 110 countries, regions and international organizations have thus far signed up, with 51 countries and regions to host exhibitions    

The United Kingdom will serve as the guest country of honor at this year’s CIFIT, sending a delegation of nearly 200 representatives from government, business and industry associations.    

As of this July, UK companies had invested over $35 billion in China, while Chinese direct investment in the UK exceeded $32 billion. Two-way investment between China and the UK spans sectors such as finance, manufacturing, automotive, pharmaceuticals and new energy. 

The CIFIT has highlighted participation of Belt and Road countries for years, while this time it will further expand that content, with special events and forums designed to boost bilateral and multilateral trade and investment, according to Vice Governor of Fujian Wang Jinfu.    

Seventy-seven Belt and Road participating countries and regions had confirmed attendance at the time of writing. High-level delegations from Azerbaijan, Cambodia and Uzbekistan will attend, while Serbia, Hungary, Slovenia and Thailand will set up national pavilions.    

“Supporting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation remains central to the CIFIT,” Wang told the attending press.    

In 2024, China’s direct investment in Belt and Road participating countries reached $50.99 billion, a 22.9 percent year-on-year increase and accounting for 26.5 percent of China’s total outbound investment.   

Highlights will also include a China-U.S. subnational economic and trade cooperation event. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development will co-host the Future Investment Conference 2025 in partnership with the city of Xiamen.   

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon  

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