A promotional activity for the upcoming China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) was held in Chengdu, southwestern Sichuan province, on July 31.

An international cooperation forum on sea transportation along the Maritime Silk Road is expected to take place at the 2019 CIFIT, during which issues about ports cooperation, convenient customs clearance, sea-railway combined transportation and intelligent logistics will be discussed.

A 2,000-square meter pavilion for Silk Road shipping will be established where renowned ports, shipowners and logistics companies will be invited to be on display, including China COSCO Shipping Corp, Hutchison Ports and and DHL.

The International Investment Forum, one of the important supporting activities of the CIFIT, will focus on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and organize a series of theme forums, including international cooperation in communications and green BRI.

Organizing committee of the 2019 CIFIT will also hold project matchmaking activities exclusively for the countries and regions along the Belt and Road route where they may introduce their business environment, investment policies and projects.

At present, Serbia, guest country of honor for the 2019 CIFIT, Germany, Belgium, Philippines and Thailand have confirmed their attendance to the project matchmaking activities.

CIFIT is held in Xiamen every September. The fair focuses on investment negotiation and investment policy promotion on a national and international scale, promoting the development of national and regional economies in China as well as economic and trade exchanges across the Taiwan Straits.

In 2018, the fair facilitated the signing of 1,982 investment projects worth 527.5 billion yuan ($78.59 billion) and drew the attendance of more than 120,000 representatives from 1,005 industrial and commercial associations. Nearly 5,000 companies representing 128 countries and regions also attended.