Xiamen - Foreign companies from Britain to Thailand announced new partnerships and expansion plans at the China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) in the eastern Chinese coastal city of Xiamen this week, highlighting continued interest in the world's second-largest consumer market.

Britain's Invinity Energy Systems signed a deal with a Xiamen company to build an intelligent manufacturing hub for energy storage batteries. Jonathan Marren, CEO of Invinity, said China's push for green development is fuelling rapid market growth and that with existing production in east China's Suzhou City, the firm sees opportunities to expand and cut costs.

Invinity was among more than 100 British firms attending the event, marking its largest-ever business delegation to CIFIT. "We are optimistic about the ability for British businesses to come and grow in China," said Lewis Neal, British Trade Commissioner for China.

The dazzling array of global products, such as British cars and health products, Thai fragrant rice and Serbian red wine, attracted the attention of many buyers and consumers at the four-day event in Xiamen in Fujian Province.

At Thailand's national pavilion, Nize Better Co., LTD. showcased more than a dozen seasoning products. Chatsarun Taecharuengchit, the company's general manager, said it has not yet exported to China but hopes to use the fair as a stepping stone into the market, noting that Thai cuisine is gaining popularity among Chinese consumers.

It was the first time Thailand had brought 35 exporters to the fair, showcasing products ranging from gems and jewelry to health and beauty items, food and beverages, and spa goods, according to Saibhorn Biboribankul, an official with the Commercial Section of the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Xiamen.

"We see a lot of potential in the Chinese market and we believe China is a market we can explore and grow," she said.

German participation was also strong, with 24 companies staging roadshows in emerging industries such as industrial automation, robotics and green technology.

Philipp Linnebach, managing director of German company Delfa Systems, showcased their new sensor technology at the fair.

"Our technology can help in many applications, such as robotics and autonomous drive systems," Linnebach said, adding that China's big market and booming electric vehicle sector offer "huge opportunities" for the firm.

Data from China's Ministry of Commerce in July showed that the retail sales of consumer goods in the country grew 5.5 percent on average annually over the past four years, and are expected to top 50 trillion yuan (about 7 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2025.

The ministry reported at the CIFIT that 59,000 new foreign-invested enterprises were established in 2024, up 9.9 percent year on year, with actual use of foreign capital reaching 116.24 billion U.S. dollars, maintaining China's position as the largest recipient of foreign capital among developing economies.

"China's policy to attract foreign investment will not change, and the door will only open wider," said Zhu Jialiang, an assistant professor at the School of Economics, Xiamen University. "The market's scale, complete supply chain and rich applications make it highly attractive to global companies."