CIFTIS wraps up with strong achievements, global confidence

As the 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) drew to a close in Beijing on Sunday, the organizers unveiled an impressive list of achievements, while international participators hailed the fair's global reach and voiced their willingness to continue participating.

As of closing day, more than 900 agreements in sectors including construction, information technology and finance signed, Zhang Huayu, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Commerce Bureau, said at the fair's closing press conference on Sunday.

The fair attracted nearly 2,000 companies for on-site participation and nearly 5,600 for online participation, with more than 250,000 visits recorded as of noon on Sunday, according to Zhang.

During the five-day fair, 21 countries and international organizations and 11 provinces and municipalities held 27 matchmaking and promotional events, while industry associations and enterprises organized 48 overseas business networking and exchange activities. Sixteen central financial enterprises and 73 centrally administered state-owned enterprises also took part in business talks, Zhang said.

Zhang also highlighted the high quality of exhibitors this year, noting that more than 480 Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders participated on-site, accounting for more than one-quarter of all exhibitors. Both the number and proportion of leading enterprises exceeded that of the previous session.

Experts noted that amid rising global uncertainties, China's continued use of such fairs not only demonstrates its commitment to opening-up but also creates opportunities for foreign businesses, underscoring China's important role on the global stage.

Several international participants told the Global Times that they have strong confidence in China's services and consumer goods markets, and said that they look forward to returning for future editions of the fair.

"In the last two days, when the event was open to the public, one thing I did not expect was that so many people would be so interested in our products," Jay Kerekes, an exporter from Slovakia attending the CIFTIS for the first time, told the Global Times on Sunday.

Kerekes and his partner founded Haikou Quanliang International Trading Co in Haikou, South China's Hainan Province, which specializes in Slovak alcoholic beverages and other products. "Apart from presenting products to the general public, I was able to find people I believe I can cooperate with in the future at the CIFTIS. That was one of my two main goals, " Kerekes said.

As the guest country of honor, Australia organized its largest-ever delegation to the CIFTIS, with nearly 60 institutions and companies participating, including CPA Australia, the University of Adelaide and Tourism Australia, marking the biggest presence by any guest country in the event's history.

Treasury Wine Estates (TWE), Australia's largest wine trader, told the Global Times that the CIFTIS is a vital platform for promoting trade, investment and global cooperation.

For TWE, a global company with deep roots in China, the CIFTIS offers a direct channel to connect with customers, partners, and other key industry and government stakeholders, Chen Ma, director of public affairs for Asia of TWE, told the Global Times on Sunday.

Many exhibitors were surprised by the high level of awareness among Chinese consumers of international products, which experts attributed to the market's long-standing openness and inclusiveness in embracing quality products from abroad.

Norwegian company Vitalis Pharma AS, also a first-time participant at the CIFTIS, praised Chinese consumers for their openness to new products, noting such willingness to try is what paves the way for partnership.

"We spent a lot of time explaining to people about the raw materials, why the product is legal, and what benefits seal oil has. It was an educational process, but the enthusiasm was high — many visitors scanned our code and placed orders on the spot," Li Xi, marketing manager at Vitalis Pharma AS, a Norway-based health supplement giant, told the Global Times on Sunday.

Bian Yongzu, executive deputy editor-in-chief of Modernization of Management magazine, told the Global Times on Sunday that only by deepening opening-up and pursuing mutually beneficial cooperation can a country unleash domestic vitality while contributing to global growth.

He added that such openness not only creates opportunities for foreign services providers but also drives the development and structural upgrading of China's own services sector. This virtuous cycle, Bian said, reinforces confidence in China's growth prospects and highlights the value of an open economy in generating opportunities, creating value and driving sustainable development.