Organizers continue to improve CIFIT

A Zimbabwean businesswoman talks with Chinese counterparts during the event. ZHU XINGXIN / CHINA DAILY

With 18 years of development, the China International Fair for Investment and Trade has evolved into a more effective investment promotion platform boasting a high level of professionalism, internationalization and market orientation, said the event's organizers.

In 2000, Xi Jinping, then governor of Fujian, said CIFIT should enhance its professionalism, internationalization and market relevance to build itself into a world investment convention.

Wang Qiongwen, director of the Xiamen Bureau of Convention and Exhibition Affairs. HU MEIDONG/CHINA DAILY

Wang Qiongwen, director of the Xiamen Bureau of Convention and Exhibition Affairs, said CIFIT kept improving over the years and was headed in the direction.

This year's fair released 32,000 projects, connected exhibitions with trade talks as well as multiple enhanced forms of communication.

At national strategy level popular phrases such as Silk Road Economic Belt and Sino-Russia strategic relationship were frequently heard at the fair, which is a stage for mutual investments.

"One of the highlights of this year's fair lies in the responses to the national strategy, which will help promote the realization of strategy," Wang said.

Some Eastern and Central European countries and Russia, which are some of China's most important partners, presented at the fair.

Events hosted by the State Council, such as the 30-year anniversary of China's development zones and a series of forums for international companies, were also held during the fair.

The main hall at this year's fair was transformed from a simple display space into an exchange zone to achieve real investment.

"More than 20 countries and regions as well as more than 10 Chinese cities and provinces hosted investment road shows and explanation meetings at the fair," Wang said, "The attendees could communicate in more than 50 conferences and events."

Wang said the fair now had higher market relevance.

Initially, the fair covered 20,000 square meters and drew about 10,000 representatives. This year it covered 100,000 sq m and attracted more than 50,000 representatives.

"The fair only had a few forums in the past and now it has about 80," Wang said.

Although the fair's scale has increased, the government funds poured into the fair has remained the same for many years, Wang said.

"With every 100 yuan ($13.6) that is spent on the fair, there is 55 yuan obtained via market operations," he said.

Wang said CIFIT differed from other fairs as it focused on studying investment trends and releasing important investment information. He said the host of forums about investment policies reflected the government's participation in the fair.

Issues such as capital flow and investment trends need the government's monitoring so CIFIT serves as the government's public service platform, Wang said.

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