Editor's note: The 16th China International Fair for Investment and Trade is expected to open with a bang on Sept 8. Ahead of the event, one of the most important gatherings for businesses across the world, leaders of the central government, Fujian province and Xiamen city spell out their expectations on the fair.

The 16th China International Fair for Investment and Trade will highlight the International Investment Forum, Vice-Minister of Commerce Wang Chao said.

Wang said this year's forum will focus on hot topics, such as new forces driving global economic development, reshaping the value chain, reinvigorating the global economy and the new round of industrial revolution.

The forum will also delve into issues such as the transformation of the development mode of enterprises, multinational capital flows and equity investment, Wang said.

The forum has invited China's leaders, foreign political officials, directors of various international organizations and multinational companies, and Nobel Prize winners, who will give speeches.

In addition to the investment forum, this year's CIFIT features a range of symposiums that will focus on topics that include outsourcing and trade frictions.

The fair will again name a "Province of Honor", a practice that was started in 2010 to encourage more provinces to participate.

The fair will highlight the resources and investment environment of whichever province is selected.

The fair initially concentrated on attracting overseas investment but later expanded its focus to also helping domestic enterprises go global, making it an important platform for investors from around the world looking for cooperation, Wang said.

This year, the fair is expected to attract more than 70,000 businesspeople from more than 120 countries and regions.

Organizers said they hope the forum will become a platform for investment policy and information discussion, and the release of information, which will guide cross-border investment decision-making.

This year marks an important point in the implementation of the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15) because the nation is facing a more complex and changing global economic situation. Against this backdrop, the fair must be well prepared to rise to more challenges, Wang said.

China overtook Japan and Britain in 2010 to become the fifth-largest global investor and is now the largest investor among developing countries.

Its outbound direct investment into the non-financial sector reached $35.4 billion in the first six months of this year, up 48.2 percent from a year earlier.

Direct investments through mergers and acquisitions amounted to $8.8 billion, accounting for 37.7 percent of total national outbound investments over the same period, according to data from the Ministry of Commerce.

Although it is facing challenges, China is maintaining stable economic growth, Wang said, adding that the government will step up financial support to domestic companies to help them expand globally.

Also, China will adopt an even more proactive opening-up strategy to expand the investment channels for overseas investors, building a more optimal, better-regulated investment environment for them, Wang said.

sunli@chinadaily.com.cn

(HK Edition 09/08/2012 page7)