Senior foreign company executives at CIFIT show continued confidence in China

Senior foreign business executives expressed unwavering confidence in China's investment potential at the just-concluded 25th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT), highlighting plans for expanded operations and long-term growth.

The 25th CIFIT concluded on September 11 in Xiamen City, east China's Fujian Province. Over the four-day event, 1,154 investment deals were signed with a planned total investment of 644 billion yuan (about 90.66 billion U.S. dollars), according to the event organizers.

As China's only national-level investment promotion fair, this year's CIFIT attracted visitors from more than 120 countries and regions, featuring over 100 investment-related activities across a 120,000-square-meter exhibition space. Key focus areas included "Invest in China," "Chinese Investment," and "International Investment."

Foreign business leaders attending the event told China Central Television (CCTV) that they remain optimistic about China's role in the global economy, not just as a market, but as an innovation and supply chain powerhouse.

"We conducted a survey of multinational companies in 2025. Among them, 90 percent of them expressed that they would either increase or maintain their R and D investment in China, and 57 percent of executives told us that China's innovation ecosystem greatly enhances their global competitiveness," said Zhou Xing, head of public affairs at PwC China.

"Seventy-six percent of our members which were studied earlier this year, they have committed vast amount of money in order to reinvest in 2025 to increase their operations, increase their capability in China. Our members have budgeted in cash more than 14.5 billion U.S. dollars in order to reinvest in the next three or five years," said Harley Seyedin, chairman and president of American Chamber of Commerce in South China (AmCham South China).

Policy support and a streamlined business environment were also top reasons cited by executives for choosing China.

"In recent years, our investment in China has exceeded the total of the past 30 years. This is largely due to favorable policies, including the easing of market access. China's door to reform and opening up continues to widen. Now, whenever issues arise, whether at the central or local level, governments are proactive in helping to coordinate and resolve them. This kind of environment naturally attracts leading global companies to invest in China," said Mu Yankui, president of YKA Group at Wilmar International Limited.

As the guest country of honor, the United Kingdom sent a large delegation of representatives.

"UK as guest country of honor has more than 100 companies, more than 300 delegates at CIFIT this year. So I think that shows the great enthusiasm that UK companies have for the opportunities in China," said Lord James Sassoon, president of the China-Britain Business Council.

Energy giant Saudi Aramco also shared its investment scale in China.

"We have invested in China over 34 billion dollars of investment, and we're trying to increase that footprint. We have a slate of several investments coming and actually under construction today in various parts of China. We are very excited about the Chinese economy, the Chinese future," said Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani, president of Downstream Business at Saudi Aramco.

Danaher Corp., a U.S.-based industrial conglomerate, also underscored its China strategy.

"We've set what we call the 'Double 80' goal. For our business worth three billion U.S. dollars in China, we aim to have 80 percent of our products manufactured locally and 80 percent of our supply chain sourced in China. This includes an investment of over 100 million U.S. dollars to establish an R and D and manufacturing base in Suzhou. I believe the Chinese market holds tremendous potential for future growth," said Anita Wei, vice president of external affairs at Danaher China, a multinational specializing in life sciences and health care.

As an important platform for promoting two-way investment in China, the fair featured dialogues with multinational corporations, sessions between leading private enterprises and Fortune 500 companies, and over 30 specialized investment activities, showcasing the opportunities and dynamism of the investment landscape in China.

During this year's CIFIT, Chinese ministries, international organizations, and business associations released 21 reports related to investment and trade policies and guidelines.

Senior foreign company executives at CIFIT show continued confidence in China

A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.

Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.

In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.

"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.

Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.

In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.

"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.

By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.

After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.

"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.

Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.

As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media