China Expands Investment Fair in Xiamen to Drive Two-Way Global Capital Flows

The 26th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) opened on September 8 in Xiamen with a larger exhibition space of 200,000 square meters, bringing together delegations from 129 countries and regions. Centered on the permanent theme of expanding two-way investment, the event introduced Finland and Saudi Arabia as dual guest countries of honor. The fair emphasizes dual priorities: attracting high-tech foreign capital into China's advanced manufacturing and industrial ecosystem, while supporting competitive domestic clean-energy and hardware manufacturers in expanding their global footprints.

As cross-border capital flows face rising geopolitical fragmentation and economic headwinds, the expanded fair serves as a practical testing ground for China's dual-track investment model. By facilitating inbound foreign capital into high-technology sectors and enabling outbound direct investment for domestic industrial players, Beijing is seeking to deepen global supply chain integration rather than decoupling.

The 26th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) opened on September 8 at the Xiamen International Expo Center, signaling an effort to maintain cross-border capital momentum amid heightened global economic uncertainty. According to state media reports, the fair expanded its exhibition footprint from 120,000 square meters in previous sessions to 200,000 square meters. The event attracted more than 1,200 government agencies and corporate delegations representing 129 countries and regions, alongside 30 international organizations. Organizers arranged 14 specialized exhibition areas, 46 themed forums, and 52 project roadshows organized around three core pillars: "Invest in China," "China Investment," and "International Investment." For the first time, CIFIT implemented a dual guest-nation-of-honor format, highlighting Finland and Saudi Arabia. Finland inaugurated its first dedicated national pavilion at the fair, featuring enterprises focused on circular economy solutions, energy transition, digital innovation, and advanced industrial manufacturing. Bilateral trade between China and Finland exceeded 8 billion dollars last year, with two-way investment stock topping 23 billion dollars, reported the Securities Times. Sakari Puisto, Finland's Minister of Economic Affairs, noted the historical continuity of industrial ties, citing the evolution of papermaking technology from ancient Chinese origins to modern Finnish specialized equipment. Saudi Arabia, China's largest trading partner in the Arab region with bilateral trade surpassing 100 billion dollars for four consecutive years, also mobilized corporate and regional delegations. Edwin Lammers of the Saudi Cities and Special Economic Zones Authority told reporters that the kingdom aims to serve as a gateway for Chinese investors seeking expansion across the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. Separately, Saudi utility developer Acwa Power reiterated plans to reach 30 billion dollars in cumulative investments in China by 2030, focusing on renewables, water desalination, and green hydrogen. Domestic coverage emphasized qualitative shifts in two-way investment flows. During the first seven months of the year, China registered 38,000 newly established foreign-invested companies, with capital inflows into high-technology industries rising 32.7 percent year-on-year. At the same time, China's outbound direct investment stock reached 3.4 trillion dollars by 2025, spanning 58,000 overseas entities across 189 countries and regions, reflecting domestic corporate maturity in sectors like electric vehicles, energy storage, and industrial machinery.