The 2025 China International Fair for Investment & Trade, organized by the Ministry of Commerce, will be held from Sept 8 to 11 in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province. As a key platform for investment promotion, CIFIT 2025 will once again serve as a gateway for business matchmaking, branding opportunities, and advancing global economic dialogue.

Centering on three major sectors — Invest in China, Chinese Investment, and International Investment — this edition of CIFIT will feature an exhibition area of about 120,000 square meters and host over 70 specialized investment activities and more than 100 specialized roadshows.

This year's CIFIT will also serve as a bridge for businesses involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, with 77 countries and regions from the BRI confirmed to attend. Azerbaijan, Cambodia, and Uzbekistan, among others, will organize high-level delegations, while Serbia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Thailand will set up national pavilions.

The Invest in China event features a rich array of content. Nearly 100 senior executives from multinational corporations in sectors such as energy, chemical engineering, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and intelligent manufacturing, as well as leaders from sovereign wealth funds and international investment institutions, have confirmed their participation.

The China Investment exhibition area has three dedicated zones: overseas investment and cooperation, overseas comprehensive services, and the Maritime Silk Road. These zones will showcase the achievements of Chinese enterprises in global investment and promote cooperation in industrial and supply chains. The Ministry of Commerce, working together with multiple chambers of commerce, will release the China Overseas Investment Activity Index for the first time.

The International Investment section promises even greater appeal. So far, delegations from more than 110 countries and regions, as well as international organizations, have registered to attend CIFIT, and 51 countries and regions will set up exhibition booths.

As one of the first demonstration cities for supply chain sector innovation and application, this year's CIFIT will see Xiamen set up the Supply Chain Artificial Intelligence Innovation Pavilion to collectively showcase its achievements in applying artificial intelligence to international logistics and supply chains. The pavilion will address common challenges in the bulk commodity supply chain industry and highlight Xiamen’s AI-driven solutions.

CIFIT 2025 will also feature a supply chain cooperation and innovation conference, which will invite AI experts and senior managers from Fortune 500 enterprises to deliver speeches and engage in exchanges. The Ministry of Commerce and the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing will jointly release the China Supply Chain Development Report and the China Supply Chain Resilience Index.

Against the backdrop of weak global economic momentum, rising trade and investment barriers, and slowing cross-border investment, active participation in this event highlights China's enduring appeal to foreign investors, Vice-Commerce Minister Ling Ji said during a press conference.

As the guest of honor, the United Kingdom plans to send a delegation of nearly 200 representatives from government, business, and associations. Ten mayors and city representatives from British cities will also attend this year's CIFIT.

Currently, the UK is China's second-largest direct investment destination in Europe and the third-largest source of foreign investment in the region. In 2024, trade in goods and services between China and the UK exceeded $130 billion, Ling said.

Trade and investment between the two countries cover a wide range of areas and industries. Goods trade includes mechanical and electrical equipment, electronic information, new energy vehicles, and light textile products. Service trade spans education, insurance, finance, securities, and consulting. Bilateral investment extends across finance, manufacturing, automobiles, medicine, and new energy.

"We're really excited about the UK Pavilion, which will showcase the UK government's recently launched Modern Industrial Strategy and provide a great platform for investors exploring opportunities in London and the UK. The strategy outlines a 10-year development plan aimed at improving UK infrastructure, reducing business costs, and streamlining regulatory processes, creating vast opportunities for UK-China collaboration across multiple sectors," said Janet Coyle, managing director of Grow London at London & Partners.

Coyle emphasized that green development and digital economy investments are top of mind for investors from London and across the global landscape. She said that investors attending this year's CIFIT will connect with leading companies and research hubs developing sustainable technologies, such as renewable energy and carbon capture, as well as biotechnology firms working on solutions to pressing health and medical challenges.