The 18th Europe–China Business & Technology Cooperation Fair opens in Chengdu

Chengdu, China - On Nov. 20, the 18th Europe–China Business & Technology Cooperation Fair (hereinafter the "Europe–China Fair"), hosted by the China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC) and the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC), opened in Chengdu. Speaking at the opening ceremony were Liu Jiannan, vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT); Chen Zhiyong, vice mayor of Chengdu Municipal People's Government; Raquel Ramirez Alexander, vice president of the EUCCC and president of its Southwest China chapter; and Dario Mihelin, ambassador of Croatia to China. H.E. Cai Run, head of the Chinese mission to the EU, delivered a video address.

Liu Jiannan said the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China outlined an ambitious blueprint for economic and social development over the next five years, bringing greater stability and certainty to the world. He added that CCPIT and CCOIC will strengthen their roles in connecting government and enterprises, bridging domestic and international channels, and facilitating supply‑demand linkages. They will support Chinese and European businesses in exploring new areas of cooperation in investment, trade, technological innovation, and the digital economy; jointly safeguard the stability and smooth flow of industrial and supply chains and the global free‑trade system; and further deepen and solidify China–Europe economic and trade cooperation.

Held Nov. 19–21 at the Business and Innovation Center of China–Europe Cooperation (CCEC) in Chengdu and themed "Mutual Trust and Connectivity, Shared Success and Prosperity," the 18th Europe–China Fair featured an opening ceremony, plenary sessions, a China–Europe business association roundtable, five industry‑themed parallel sessions (Energy & Environmental Protection; Biomedicine; Digital & Cultural Creativity; Agriculture & Food; Intelligent Robotics), Linking Europe Exchange, B2B matchmaking, and visits to industry parks and leading enterprises. Discussions focused on China–Europe bilateral economic and trade relations and industrial and supply‑chain cooperation, aiming to strengthen government‑business dialogue, enhance China‑foreign coordination, and build consensus for collaboration.

This edition of the Europe–China Fair was notable for its large scale, high‑level participation, focus on cutting‑edge industries, and emphasis on practical cooperation. More than 600 representatives from government departments, business associations, foreign diplomatic missions, leading enterprises, and experts and scholars from over 20 countries attended in person. Participants included major Chinese and international companies, among them Fortune 500 firms such as China Three Gorges Corporation, CATL, BGI Group, AstraZeneca, Bayer, SAP, BASF, and the Suez Group.

Notably, the China–Europe B2B Matchmaking Session was lively and produced tangible results. Representatives from 204 Chinese and foreign companies across 15 countries took part in 257 one‑on‑one matchmaking meetings covering trade, investment and technological cooperation in areas including new energy; artificial intelligence; biomedicine; digital technology & cultural creativity; intelligent manufacturing; and agriculture & food — yielding 166 expressions of cooperative intent.

Launched in 2002 as an initiative of the European Commission and held in Chengdu since 2006, the Europe–China Fair has become one of the renowned leading platforms for China–Europe investment, trade and technology cooperation, with broad participation from EU member states and European companies. Since its inception, the event has attracted more than 12,000 Chinese and European companies, arranged over 29,000 business‑matchmaking meetings, and facilitated more than 3,200 letters of intent for cooperation.