A rendering of the Premium Goods Collection Area. [Photo provided to chinafair.org.cn]

The 26th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT), from Sept 8 to 11 at the Xiamen International Expo Center, will feature several new highlights.

Finland and Saudi Arabia, this year's guest countries of honor, will lead delegations at the Global Cooperation Area, while Guangdong and Qinghai, the guest provinces of honor, will host their promotion areas in the Chinese Provinces and Cities Promotion Area.

Major exhibition areas at this year's CIFIT have been significantly upgraded, with the Global Cooperation Exhibition Area hosting exhibitors from 60 countries and the Financial Area doubling in size to 25,000 square meters, with 142 participating institutions.

For the first time, the operator of the Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) will bring its Cross-Border Enterprise-Bank Cooperation (CEBEC) event to the Financial Area, occupying a dedicated 12,000-square-meter section in Hall 6.

The Cross-Strait Integrated Development Area has expanded to 1,000 sq m and will host three matchmaking events with participants from government, industry, and capital sectors.

The "Envisioning the Future" Hall covers 15,000 sq m, featuring more than 100 high-quality projects on display from across China, allowing visitors to scan QR codes for details. Dedicated networking tables with leading investment firms will provide end‑to‑end services from project pitching to connecting with investors.

The Premium Goods Collection Area in Hall 8 will combine product exhibitions with hands-on experiences, accept various payment methods, and provide tax refund services for international visitors.

International organizations including UNCTAD and UNIDO will also play a key role, with forums such as the Future Investment Conference and the Gulangyu Forum held alongside the main event, and reports including the Chinese edition of the World Investment Report set to be released.