ZH reported, citing a May 15 report from China Daily.
China is preparing to use its largest investment expo as a platform to reinforce global business ties, attract foreign capital, and support Chinese companies expanding overseas — despite growing geopolitical tensions and a fragile global economy.
Officials this week unveiled plans for the 26th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT), scheduled for September in the southeastern city of Xiamen, signaling Beijing’s continued commitment to international economic engagement at a time when many multinational companies are reassessing supply chains and investment strategies.
The annual event, hosted by China’s Ministry of Commerce, has increasingly become more than a traditional trade fair. It now functions as a showcase for Beijing’s broader strategy of balancing inbound foreign investment with outbound global expansion by Chinese companies.
This year’s exhibition will be the largest in the fair’s history, covering roughly 200,000 square meters and featuring sectors ranging from artificial intelligence and healthcare to green energy and the emerging low-altitude economy.
China Sends a Signal on Openness
The timing of the announcement is significant.
As geopolitical competition intensifies and concerns over “de-risking” continue to reshape global trade and investment flows, China is attempting to reassure international investors that it remains open for business.
Commerce Ministry officials emphasized that China attracted more than $750 billion in foreign investment during the country’s 14th Five-Year Plan period from 2021 to 2025, with over 30 percent flowing into high-tech industries.
Authorities also highlighted a series of recent policy changes designed to improve market access for overseas firms. These include the removal of all foreign-investment restrictions in manufacturing and expanded pilot opening measures in sectors such as cloud computing, biotechnology, and wholly foreign-owned hospitals.
The message from Beijing is increasingly clear: China wants foreign capital not only in traditional manufacturing, but also in advanced industries tied to technological upgrading and long-term economic restructuring.
Supply Chains Become Strategic
One of the clearest themes emerging from this year’s CIFIT is supply-chain cooperation.
Organizers said the event will place greater emphasis on international industrial collaboration and cross-border supply-chain partnerships, reflecting how deeply economic security has become intertwined with geopolitics.
For China, strengthening supply-chain ties now serves both economic and strategic purposes.
On one hand, Beijing is seeking to stabilize foreign investment flows as global growth slows. On the other, it wants to maintain its position as a central node in global manufacturing networks despite mounting trade restrictions and technology controls from Western countries.
The inclusion of sectors such as AI, green energy, and healthcare also reflects China’s effort to move global cooperation toward higher-value industries rather than relying solely on low-cost manufacturing exports.
China’s “Go Global” Strategy Evolves
The expo also highlights another major trend in China’s economy: the rapid international expansion of Chinese companies.
According to official data, China’s outbound investment reached more than $174 billion in 2025, while the country’s cumulative overseas investment stock surpassed $3 trillion.
Beijing has recently stepped up policy support for Chinese firms operating abroad, including new guidelines aimed at improving overseas service systems and protecting companies’ international interests.
This reflects a broader shift in China’s economic strategy.
For years, the focus was primarily on attracting foreign capital into China. Now, policymakers are increasingly encouraging competitive Chinese companies to expand internationally — particularly in infrastructure, manufacturing, clean energy, logistics, and technology-related sectors.
That push comes as Chinese firms face slower domestic demand at home and seek new markets abroad.
Europe Still Matters
Finland’s selection as this year’s guest country of honor is also notable.
Despite growing political tensions between China and parts of Europe, Beijing continues to emphasize economic cooperation with European businesses. Finnish officials noted that roughly 250 Finnish companies currently operate in China, generating annual revenues of around 15 billion euros.
The choice suggests China still sees Europe as a critical economic partner even as global trade blocs become more fragmented.
Beyond a Trade Fair
For overseas observers, CIFIT increasingly serves as a barometer of China’s broader economic direction.
The event reflects a country trying to navigate a more divided global economy while still positioning itself as both a destination for global investment and a major source of international capital.
Rather than retreating from globalization, Beijing appears to be reshaping its role within it — pushing for deeper integration in strategic sectors while building stronger economic resilience against geopolitical uncertainty.
In that sense, this year’s investment fair is not just about trade promotion. It is also a carefully staged signal about how China wants to position itself in the next phase of the global economy.