CIFTIS 2025 closes with 900+ deals as China spotlights digital trade

This year’s edition drew participants from over 60 countries and more than 20 international organisations, alongside Fortune Global 500 firms and unicorns. Exhibitors unveiled 198 achievements across artificial intelligence, fintech, healthcare and green technology, including 109 new product launches. The breadth of announcements signalled that companies are pushing beyond proofs-of-concept toward deployable services in areas like intelligent operations, telemedicine and low-carbon solutions.

Deal making was brisk both on-site and online. The fair hosted more than 8,500 business meetings through its digital platform, with professional attendance rising about 12 per cent year on year to roughly 116,000. Australia, as guest country of honour, reported 15 cooperation intentions with Chinese partners in finance and education, illustrating how sectoral partnerships are widening beyond traditional goods trade into higher-value services.

CIFTIS also doubled as a soft-power and policy platform. A programme of 45 cultural, commercial, tourism and sports activities, plus 11 curated business tours, aimed to convert interest into investment. In total, the five-day event attracted more than 250,000 on-site visitors and about 5,600 virtual exhibitors, underscoring the scale of engagement. The follow-through, turning agreements into operating projects, will be the key metric to watch as Beijing seeks to anchor growth in services, expand digital trade corridors and deepen international cooperation.