CIFIT Xiamen Guide: China's Two-Way Investment Fair
By Ilyas Kerbal,
The China International Fair for Investment & Trade (CIFIT) is China’s only national fair focused on two-way investment: foreign money coming into China and Chinese companies investing abroad. It’s approved by the State Council, organised by the Ministry of Commerce and held every September in Xiamen. The 2026 mission was “Expanding Two-Way Investment, Jointly Facilitating Global Development”. For investment promotion agencies, law firms, consultants and industrial parks, the CIFIT attendee list is a well-targeted audience.
CIFIT key facts
| Industry | Investment promotion |
| City | Xiamen, China |
| Venue | Xiamen International Conference & Exhibition Center, Xiamen, Fujian |
| Dates | September, 26th edition 8–11 Sep 2026 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Moves between cities? | No, always Xiamen |
| Typical scale | ~100,000 attendees · ~1,000 exhibitors |
| Visitor ticket | Online registration (no published visitor fee) |
| App / platform | Online registration + investment matchmaking |
| Official website | chinafair.org.cn |
Details checked in October 2026. Dates, prices and venues can change between editions, so confirm on the official CIFIT website before you book travel.
What is CIFIT?
CIFIT brings together investment promotion agencies, provinces and industrial parks, multinationals, sovereign funds and Chinese companies going overseas. It hosts high-level forums, project signings and country pavilions. Topics include:
- Foreign direct investment into China
- Chinese outbound investment
- Industrial parks and investment promotion agencies
- Legal, consulting and financial services
- Manufacturing, new energy and digital economy projects
- Country and provincial pavilions
Each edition names a Guest Country of Honour (Finland in 2026) and a Guest Province of Honour (Guangdong in 2026).
CIFIT combines high-level investment forums with project signings and country pavilions. Photo: UNCTAD, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Venue and dates
CIFIT has been held at the Xiamen International Conference & Exhibition Center in Fujian every September since 1997. The 26th edition ran 8–11 September 2026, and the next is expected in September 2027. Roadshows, such as one in Guangzhou in May 2026, promote matchmaking ahead of the fair.
Who attends CIFIT
| Attendee | What they’re looking for | Who should target them |
|---|---|---|
| Investment promotion agencies and economic development boards | Chinese investors | Chinese companies going abroad |
| Chinese companies expanding abroad | Locations, advisers, partners | Agencies, law and consulting firms |
| Multinationals and private equity firms | Opportunities in China | Provinces, industrial parks |
| Government officials (national, provincial, foreign) | Deals and cooperation | Agencies, chambers |
| Consultants, law and accounting firms | Clients | Each other, outbound companies |
| Chambers of commerce | Members and partnerships | Service firms |
Planning to exhibit at CIFIT? I build CIFIT attendee and exhibitor lists before the event: names, job titles, companies, company size, LinkedIn profiles and work emails where available, delivered as a CSV ready for HubSpot, Salesforce or Pipedrive. Ask for your CIFIT list
Registration
Professional visitors and investors register at chinafair.org.cn, and no standard visitor fee is published. Forums and investment matchmaking sessions need registration or an invitation.
Project databases and matchmaking
Registration, project databases and investment matchmaking all run through chinafair.org.cn. The project database is useful for spotting opportunities. For an economic development agency or professional services firm, though, the key is knowing which Chinese companies with outbound plans will be there, and who leads international expansion at each. That’s a list worth building in advance.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Unique two-way investment focus | Policy-driven, less product-focused |
| Senior government and agency presence | Many signings are MOUs |
| Ideal for agencies seeking Chinese investors | Mostly Chinese-language |
| Pleasant, accessible venue in Xiamen | Limited relevance for product sales |
| Strong project-signing culture | Overlaps with CIFTIS and CAEXPO in September |
Outdated titles and missing companies cost you meetings. I clean and enrich CIFIT profiles before delivery, so the file you import is one your reps can trust. Get a clean CIFIT list
Preparing for CIFIT
- Decide your direction: attracting Chinese investment, or serving Chinese companies going out.
- Use the project database to find matches before the fair.
- Join a roadshow if one is held in a city near you.
- Book matchmaking sessions early.
- Bring bilingual materials with clear incentives or service offers.
- Treat MOUs as a start; follow up with concrete next steps.
FAQ
When is CIFIT?
Every September in Xiamen. The 26th edition ran 8–11 September 2026.
Who organises CIFIT?
China’s Ministry of Commerce, with State Council approval.
Is CIFIT free?
No standard visitor fee is published; professional visitors register on chinafair.org.cn.
Can I get the CIFIT attendee list?
There’s no exportable list. I can compile an enriched list of exhibitors, delegations and investor profiles.
Walk into CIFIT with a target list
Exhibiting or just walking the halls, the companies you want to meet at CIFIT are already registered. I can find them, enrich them with titles, company data and LinkedIn profiles, and deliver a file your team can work from straight away.
Related event guides
- CIFTIS Beijing Guide: China’s Services Trade Fair Explained
- Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics: Sourcing Fair Guide
- CIMT 2027 Beijing: China Machine Tool Show Guide and Leads
Sources
Photo credits
- Cover image: 厦门国际会议展览中心 by Liuxingy, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- In-article image: Dr. Kituyi at the 17th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (9708375631) by UNCTAD, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
