BEIJING: The 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), which opened on September 10 in Beijing, has underscored China’s vision for inclusive, open, and technology-driven global trade in services.
Held under the theme “Embrace Intelligent Technologies, Empower Trade in Services,” the event brought together 85 countries and international organizations, with 25 participating in the thematic exhibition. Nearly 2,000 companies, including 500 Fortune 500 and industry leaders such as Walmart, AstraZeneca, and KPMG, joined the fair — representing 26 of the world’s top 30 service trade economies.
Expanding Market Access
National pavilions highlighted China’s openness to foreign companies. Slovak Economic Counsellor Lucia Skvareninova praised China’s progress in AI and high-tech sectors, noting that visa-free entry for Slovak citizens is encouraging entrepreneurs to explore opportunities such as Hainan’s free trade zone.
Norway’s Commercial Counsellor Henning Kristoffersen emphasized China’s importance for trade-dependent nations, pointing to vast opportunities created by its growing middle class.
Driving Innovation and Sustainability
Australia, the Guest Country of Honour, showcased its largest-ever national pavilion. Austrade General Manager Dominic Trindade said the pavilion spanned sectors from education and finance to food and health, with 15 MoUs signed on the opening day.
Germany’s North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) pavilion spotlighted AI, new energy, biomedicine, and smart storage, with Zhang Zongliang of NRW.Global Business noting the complementarity between China’s vast market and NRW’s industrial expertise.
Enhancing Cultural Exchange and Cooperation
Ireland highlighted agri-food, education, and medical devices at its pavilion. Derek Lambe, Economic Counsellor at the Irish Embassy, said direct flights between Beijing and Dublin are boosting exchanges, adding that CIFTIS has become a key platform for bilateral cooperation since 2017.
Participants also stressed the global need for openness amid rising protectionism. Kristoffersen warned that “less globalization” is concerning for trade-driven economies, expressing hope that China remains a force for global connectivity.
With 113 enterprises unveiling 198 new products and more than 40 cultural and leisure activities, CIFTIS 2025 has reaffirmed China’s commitment to building a collaborative and future-oriented services trade platform, bridging nations through innovation, sustainability, and cultural exchange.
