China International Fair for Investment and Trade is the sole national investment promotion event aiming at absorbing foreign direct investment (FDI), and is presently the biggest economic and trade event in China, which focuses on investment promotion and trade of products manufactured by foreign-invested enterprises in China. Its predecessor was the Fujian Fair for International Investment and Trade, which had been held successfully for 10 sessions. In January 1997, as approved by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of the People's Republic of China (MOFTEC), the Fujian Fair for International Investment and Trade was officially upgraded to China International Fair for Investment and Trade.

    The abbreviation and shortened form for China International Fair for Investment & Trade is: "CIFIT".

    T he Ministry of Commerce(MOFCOM) of the People's Republic of China.

    The Provincial Government of Fujian , The Municipal Government of Xiamen , the Investment Promotion Affairs Bureau of Ministry of Commerce.

    Up to now, CIFIT has 45 affiliates, including Guizhou, Yunnan, Shaanxi, Anhui, Qinghai, Liaoning, Jiangsu, Shandong, Hebei, Sichuan, Jilin, Zhejiang, Hunan, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Hubei, Gansu, Heilongjiang, Henan, Shanxi, Hainan, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Tibet, Guangxi, Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Harbin, Qingdao, Ministry of Science and Technology, Office of Overseas Chinese Affairs, Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, Xinjiang PLA's Production & Construction Corps, State Administration of Intellectual Property Rights, China Development Zones Association, China Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment, China Council for Promotion of International Trade, China National Tourism Administration, China Self-employed Laborers Association, Fujian,Xiamen and Shenzhen

     CIFIT is held annually in Xiamen from September the 8th to the 11th .

    Firstly, Xiamen is one of China's first four Special Economic Zones (SEZs), and has been a window on China's reform and opening-up; secondly, Xiamen is among the earliest in China to hold such fairs with a focus on absorbing FDI. Fujian Fair for International Investment & Trade, which had been held since 1987, and developed itself into a regional investment fair by 1996. Thirdly, Xiamen, as a famous trading port in China, has established close economic and trade ties with countries and regions worldwide. Fourthly, Xiamen, a famous port city with a charming landscape, boasts a beautiful environment and convenient transportation facilities, as well as complete modern exhibition facilities. Fifthly, Xiamen is a famous hometown to overseas Chinese and is an important link for overseas Chinese of Xiamen or Fujian origins to invest in their motherland. Sixthly, as the ancestral home to Taiwanese compatriots, Xiamen has unique regional advantages in promoting investment from Taiwan.

    The logo of CIFIT is the "9.8 golden key," which is composed of the Arabic numerals "9" and "8" as well as the English letters "CIFIT". The Arabic numerals "9" and "8" indicates that the Fair is held on September 8 each year, and "CIFIT" is the English abbreviation for China International Fair for Investment & Trade; the logo golden key symbolizes the Fair as a door to success and lasting prosperity.

    To create a favorable environment and opportunities under the guidance of the State's investment orientation, to serve as a window for international capital to enter the Chinese market, thus to help Chinese enterprises enter the world market.

    Under the guidance of MOFCOM, all affiliates of CIFIT organize delegations to attend the Fair; In addition, international investors, merchant adventurers, chambers of commerce, intermediate agencies, and financial institutions worldwide, as well as offices established by multinationals and large foreign-funded investment companies in China are also invited to attend. Most importantly, CIFIT furnishes its participants with a full range of services by means of integrating investment and trade, exhibition and negotiations, investment promotion and policies consultation, business activities and academic symposiums.