Foreign exhibitors at the China International Fair for Investment & Trade, an annual event held in Xiamen, Fujian province. [Photo/chinafair.org.cn]

The Czech Republic and Yunnan province in southwest China are poised for the 2018 China International Fair for Investment & Trade (CIFIT), which is to be held in Xiamen, Fujian province, from Sept 8 to 11.

As the guest country of honor, the central European country will set up a 500 square meter pavilion to seek business opportunities, whilst Yunnan will showcase their local investment climate and favorable policies in a pavilion spanning 1,000 square meters.

The guest country of honor at the CIFIT was initiated in 2013, with Malaysia, Bahrain, Georgia and Italy served in previous editions.

“The CIFIT provides Italy a platform to display the national image and attract foreign investment,” said an official from Italy, the guest country of honor at the 2016 CIFIT.

In addition, a 2,000-square-meter investment pavilion exclusively for the countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative will also be established this year, where more than 20 such countries will present their industrial advantages and open business environments.

After 20 years’ development, the CIFIT has now grown into an important promotional platform for China to bring in foreign direct investment and go global.

In 2017, the fair facilitated the signing of 1,577 investment projects worth 532.7 billion yuan ($76.82 billion) and drew more than 100,000 representatives from 107 countries and regions.