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Vice Commerce Minister Ling Ji announced on August 25, 2026 that preparations for the 26th China International Fair for Investment and Trade are largely complete ahead of its opening in Xiamen, Fujian Province. The Ministry of Commerce official detailed how this year’s edition introduces a dual guest countries of honor mechanism for the first time, with Finland and Saudi Arabia sharing the designation. Ling Ji stated that the selection underscores the fair’s growing international appeal and its distinctive role in facilitating two-way investment flows between participating economies.
The vice minister’s press conference outlined how China ranks as Saudi Arabia’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade exceeding 100 billion U.S. dollars for four consecutive years according to official figures. For Finland, China stands as its largest trading partner in Asia and fourth largest globally, with bilateral trade surpassing 8 billion dollars last year. These established economic relationships informed the decision to feature both nations prominently at the event running from September 8 to 11.
Organizers structured the fair around three core thematic sections covering investment into China, China’s outbound investment and broader international investment opportunities, a Ministry of Commerce assessment found. The program incorporates 14 specialized exhibition zones that will showcase sectors ranging from new quality productive forces to the Silk Road Maritime initiative and international supply chains. Delegations from 123 countries and regions have registered while 60 countries and regions will establish exhibition pavilions, according to the latest tallies shared at the briefing. The Investment Promotion Agency of the Ministry of Commerce reported that multinational companies and foreign business councils have registered in large numbers.
A September 7 briefing from the Investment Promotion Agency of the Ministry of Commerce reported registrations from more than 1,200 government agencies, business councils and corporate delegations across 129 countries and regions along with 30 international organizations. The agency noted that the financial exhibition area will double in size this year to better highlight finance’s support for the real economy while professional programs will include policy releases, thematic seminars and project matchmaking sessions. The event will span 200,000 square meters at the Xiamen International Expo Center and feature 46 themed events together with 52 project roadshows to drive cooperation outcomes.
The dual-guest model also incorporates Guangdong and Qinghai as guest provinces of honor to complement the international focus, according to the agency update. This setup builds on the fair’s history as a flagship platform for the Invest in China campaign. The broad participation reflects the event’s established position in global investment promotion.
A series of Xinhua reports on bilateral ties have highlighted the synergy between Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and China’s Belt and Road Initiative that has created opportunities in traditional sectors like petrochemicals and infrastructure as well as emerging fields such as renewable energy and digital economy. The guest of honor status for Saudi Arabia at the fair provides a platform to advance such alignment further. Ling Ji emphasized that the mechanism will create a broad stage for investment cooperation among all participants.
