China’s trade promotion body lays out busy 2026 calendar of global summits

As China emerges from a springtime lull in major trade diplomacy, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) has unveiled an ambitious roster of high‑profile global business gatherings for the remainder of the year. With the calendar stretching from May through November, the events are designed to engage international business leaders, supply chain stakeholders, and policymakers across a range of sectors. Here is a chronological look at what is on the horizon.

Upcoming Events

18 May: Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit 2026 (Beijing)

The 2026 Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit, an annual flagship event launched by CCPIT in 2022, will take place on 18 May at the China National Convention Center, following a routine Wednesday announcement. This year’s edition is themed “Moving Forward with Innovation, Connecting the Future”. According to CCPIT spokesperson Wang Guannan, the agenda will focus on three core pillars: “new” (fresh development priorities under China’s 15th Five‑Year Plan), “intelligence” (the role of artificial intelligence in fostering innovation in trade and investment), and “integration” (deeper collaboration between the services and manufacturing sectors). Organisers say a “Beijing Initiative” will be issued at the conclusion of the event to encourage global business communities to forge more resilient and sustainable economic partnerships.

22–26 June: The Fourth China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE; Beijing)

The fourth CISCE, the world’s first national‑level exhibition focuses exclusively on supply chains, will be held 22–26 June at the China International Exhibition Centre (Shunyi Hall). The expo will maintain its signature “full industrial chain” perspective, featuring six chain‑specific zones: digital technology, advanced manufacturing, green agriculture, healthy living, intelligent vehicles, and clean energy, plus a dedicated supply chain services area. This year’s edition will also include a special zone for the artificial intelligence industry, covering the entire ecosystem from data collection and intelligent analysis to real‑world applications. The event has previously drawn participants from 75 countries and regions.

Late June: SCO Business Forum (Kyrgyzstan)

Also in late June, CCPIT will lead a Chinese business delegation to the SCO Business Forum in Kyrgyzstan, a long‑standing mechanism under the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Business Council that is now in its 17th consecutive year among member states. The forum is designed to foster dialogue, deepen practical cooperation, and promote mutual benefit among business communities across the SCO region. The Chinese delegation will also hold meetings with Kyrgyz business councils to advance high‑quality bilateral and multilateral economic cooperation.

Late June: Sustainable Markets Initiative China Forum (Beijing)

Rounding out the month, CCPIT’s affiliate, the China Chamber of International Commerce, will host the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) China Forum in late June in Beijing. The SMI—initiated in 2020 by then‑Prince of Wales, now King Charles III, at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos—is a multilateral business cooperation mechanism in the sustainable development field. The China Forum is run under the SMI China Council, which was established by CCPIT in August 2022.

September: The 23rd China‑ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (Nanning)

The 23rd edition of the China‑ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS) is scheduled for September in Nanning, the capital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China. First established in 2004, CABIS has become a flagship platform for high‑level dialogue and economic cooperation between China and the ten ASEAN member states. The upcoming summit will be held under the theme “Sharing 3.0 Opportunities, Co‑creating a Better Life”. The programme will include four main sessions: an opening ceremony, a China‑ASEAN Business Leaders Forum, a China‑Philippines High‑Level Business Dialogue, and a China‑ASEAN Commercial and Legal Forum. In addition, nine side events on vertical‑industry applications of AI are planned, along with a matchmaking meeting for ASEAN entrepreneurs and other supporting business activities.

October: 19th Europe‑China Business & Technology Cooperation Fair (Chengdu)

The 19th Europe‑China Business & Technology Cooperation Fair—commonly known as the EU‑China Business and Technology Cooperation Fair—is set to take place in October in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province in southwestern China. Co‑hosted by the China Chamber of International Commerce and the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, the event is the largest and longest‑running platform for investment, trade, and innovation cooperation between China and the EU, with past editions attracting over 13,000 companies and generating more than 3,360 cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding. The 19th fair will focus on sectors including new energy, biomedicine, agricultural and food products, AI, and vocational education, with a series of industry‑specific matchmaking events.

November: APEC CEO Summit 2026 (Shenzhen)

In what is likely the year’s most significant international business gathering, China will host the APEC CEO Summit 2026 in Shenzhen this November as part of its year as APEC chair. The APEC CEO Summit is the highest‑level meeting of government leaders and business executives within the APEC framework. CCPIT is taking the lead in organising the official business events, including the CEO Summit itself, which is expected to draw over 1,000 participants from government, business, and academia across APEC’s 21 member economies.

Meanwhile, CCPIT is also actively participating as a coordinator for the Chinese private sector in two ongoing business processes: the US‑hosted B20 (the official G20 business dialogue) in 2026, and the BRICS Business Forum, which is due to be held in India later in the year with an exact date yet to be announced. Both processes are being run by their respective host organisations.