Although the world has entered a new turbulent phase, the journey toward openness and cooperation remains irreversible, Vice-President Han Zheng said on Tuesday, reaffirming that China is steadfastly committed to high-level opening-up for win-win cooperation.

Han made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 26th China International Fair for Investment and Trade, which kicked off in Xiamen, Fujian province. The fair, which runs through Friday, is structured around the themes of "Invest in China", "China's Outbound Investment" and "International Investment".

Han urged global enterprises to leverage the opportunities presented by China's opening-up and deeply root themselves in the Chinese market, while calling for joint efforts to foster an open, innovative global ecosystem and maintain the multilateral trading system.

This year's exhibition covers an area of 200,000 square meters — up from 120,000 square meters last year — and has drawn registrations from over 1,200 government and business delegations from 129 countries and regions, alongside 30 prominent international organizations, a powerful testament to the enduring confidence of global business in the Chinese market.

For the first time, the fair has two guest countries of honor — Finland and Saudi Arabia.

Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said in a congratulatory letter that "Finland values its long-standing stable diplomatic relations with China and recognizes the importance of cooperation between our countries".

He said China's development and markets have provided many opportunities for foreign companies.

China is currently Finland's largest trading partner in Asia and its fourth-largest trading partner globally, with the value of bilateral trade between the two nations surpassing $8 billion last year.

Against this backdrop of deepening economic ties, Finland has set up its first national pavilion at this year's CIFIT, showcasing advanced Nordic tech innovation in the areas of circular economy, smart manufacturing, healthy living and education.

Meanwhile, the participation of Saudi Arabia as the other guest country of honor comes as 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Saudi Arabia comprehensive strategic partnership.

Ibrahim Al-Mubarak, assistant minister of investment of Saudi Arabia, said cooperation between the two nations rests on a solid foundation. China is Saudi Arabia's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade exceeding $100 billion for four consecutive years.

He expressed strong expectations of deepening investment cooperation and expanding industrial and technological synergy to generate greater economic value for both countries.

Buoyed by these robust ties, Saudi Arabia has sent a massive economic delegation, highlighting investment opportunities in key sectors including energy, chemicals and advanced manufacturing.

Harley Seyedin, president and chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in South China, noted that this year marks the 23rd consecutive year of the chamber bringing a delegation to CIFIT.

"CIFIT has become an important platform for our members to understand investment opportunities, connect with local governments and business partners, and explore new areas of cooperation," Seyedin said.

This year's high-profile delegation features representatives of global industry leaders — including Nike, PepsiCo, Johnson &Johnson, Bunge and doTERRA — alongside tech and professional services companies.

"Large multinational corporations continue to see opportunities in China, while more specialized and innovative companies are also looking at the market, exploring partnerships and developing their businesses here," he said.

Zhou Mi, a senior researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said the CIFIT model helps create trust-based conditions for engagement, allowing all parties to conduct face-to-face exchanges and explore future trends to promote orderly investment.

Global investment directions are closely tied to technological advances and innovative business models. As a result, innovative industries have gained popularity, becoming an essential vector for capturing international investment, he said.

source: China Daily

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