Chinese Vice President Han Zheng addresses attendees at the opening ceremony of the 26th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) in Xiamen, Fujian Province, on September 8 (ZHANG WEI) 

The 26th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) opened in Xiamen, Fujian Province on September 8, bringing together government officials, business leaders and investors from around the world to explore new opportunities for cross-border investment and cooperation. 

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng delivered a speech at the opening ceremony, calling for greater openness and international cooperation amid rising uncertainty in the global economy. He also stated that China will continue to advance high-standard opening-up, promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, strengthen international cooperation in sci-tech and industrial innovation and work with other countries to keep global industrial and supply chains stable and smooth. 

CIFIT is held each year under the permanent theme Expanding Two-Way Investment, Jointly Facilitating Global Development, this year’s event, held from September 8 to 11, is organized around three major sections: “Invest in China,” “Chinese Investment” and “International Investment.”    

The fair covers a record 200,000 square meters, up from 120,000 square meters last year, and features 14 specialized exhibition zones, 46 thematic events and 52 project roadshows. It attracted more than 1,200 government and business delegations from 129 countries and regions, along with 30 international organizations, according to the Xiamen Municipal Bureau of Commerce.   

For the first time, CIFIT has designated two guest countries of honor, Finland and Saudi Arabia, and two guest provinces of honor, Guangdong and Qinghai. 

Two-way investment is a major focus this year. The Chinese Investment exhibition area has expanded to nearly 20,000 square meters, while the financial exhibition area has doubled in size. Areas dedicated to new quality productive forces, specialized and innovative enterprises and sci-tech innovation have also been upgraded, with emphasis on fields including AI, smart manufacturing and green energy.   

As geopolitical tensions, technological transformation and the restructuring of global supply chains reshape investment decisions worldwide, this year’s CIFIT places the spotlight on a central challenge facing the global economy: how to keep investment, innovation and cooperation moving across borders. 

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