The Overseas Investment Fair 2026 opened in Shanghai on Thursday in a bid to establish an international platform for foreign investment cooperation and exchange.

The event, hosted by China Council for International Investment Promotion (CCIIP), brought together government officials, representatives of international organizations, industry experts, and business leaders from across China and 58 countries and regions worldwide. Participants discussed emerging trends in overseas business expansion, cross-border investment opportunities and the development of overseas service ecosystems.

"In today's globalization landscape with its new opportunities and challenges, businesses increasingly demand high-quality, specialized overseas comprehensive services," said Fang Aiqing, president of CCIIP.

Fang called for the improvement of overseas comprehensive service systems and guiding the rational and orderly overseas layout of production and supply chains, adding that these efforts would strengthen practices for building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Chen Jing, deputy director of the Standing Committee of Shanghai Municipal People's Congress, highlighted the city's strategic position as China's gateway for international business.

"Shanghai is accelerating the construction of an overseas comprehensive service system to serve as a bridgehead for companies expanding abroad," Chen said.

"We will further develop an ecosystem of services for companies going overseas, strengthening global connections in resources, production capacity, markets, and regulatory frameworks."

Several initiatives were unveiled during the opening ceremony, including a development report on China's outbound investment and economic cooperation, and an outlook on China's outbound investment trends.

Christian Wulff, former president of Germany and honorary chairman of the global alliance of SMEs, described the fair as "an important platform for expanding cooperation with the world".

Describing Shanghai as China's gateway to the world and the world's gateway to China, Wulff emphasized the potential and his own support for expanded cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises from China and Germany.

Gerry Grimstone, former UK minister for investment, praised China's consistent approach to economic planning.

"What always impresses me with China and its system of five-year plans is that it actually follows the plans and meets the plans," he said.

Grimstone added that international expansion requires careful strategizing: "Chinese companies are ambitious about going global, and I know the Chinese leadership encourages this, but it's not a straightforward process," he said.

"Companies must approach it thoughtfully and strategically, often requiring local partners and guides for assistance."

Regarding China-UK relations, Grimstone expressed optimism: "We had a very successful visit by our prime minister to China earlier this year. While national relationships naturally experience fluctuations, I believe we're entering a very positive phase of UK-China cooperation."

The fair also featured the establishment of strategic cooperation agreements between the CCIIP and various provincial and municipal commerce departments, aimed at connecting local, national, and global resources to create a comprehensive overseas service network.

With more than 120 business matching activities and business inspection tours, the event provides targeted opportunities for supply-demand connections and enhanced support for enterprises engaged in overseas investment.