(Yicai) Aug. 27 -- Executives from around 100 multinational corporations and heads of international investment institutions have registered to attend the 25th China International Fair for Investment and Trade, according to the Chinese vice commerce ministry.

The participation of the executives and investment leaders in the CIFIT shows China’s enduring appeal as an investment destination despite rising trade and investment barriers and sluggish global economic growth, Ling Ji, who is also the deputy China international trade representative, said at a press conference yesterday.

The multinationals attending the CIFIT are engaged in the energy, chemical, agriculture, pharmaceutical, and intelligent manufacturing sectors, according to Ling.

China’s massive market, robust and efficient supply chains, and diverse application scenarios driven by a new wave of technological and industrial transformation demonstrate that “investing in China is investing in the future,” Ling noted.

Delegations from over 110 countries, regions, and international organizations will also attend the CIFIT, with 51 countries and regions setting up exhibition booths, Ling said. The United Kingdom, this year’s guest country of honor, will send a delegation of nearly 200 representatives from the government, businesses, and associations, and host a series of exchange activities.

The CIFIT, which will be held in Xiamen from Sept. 8 to 11, will have an exhibition area of around 120,000 square meters and host over 70 investment-themed activities and 100 specialized roadshows. It is themed ‘Join Hands with China, Invest in the Future’ and will focus on three main topics: invest in China, Chinese investment, and international investment.

The Ministry of Commerce will also organize several chambers of commerce to release the China Outbound Investment Activity Index for the first time at the CIFIT.

In the first seven months of the year, 36,133 new foreign-invested enterprises were established in China, up 14 percent from a year earlier, according to MOFCOM data. However, the foreign capital in actual use in the country fell 13 percent to CNY467.3 billion (USD65.7 billion) in the period.

Editor: Futura Costaglione