Chinese and European businesses are exploring new opportunities for cooperation and mutual growth. That's the message sent from the 19th EU-China Business and Technology Cooperation Fair which concluded in southwest China's Chengdu on Friday. It's co-hosted by the China Chamber of International Commerce and the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU. Our reporter is on the ground to find out more. 

 

Chengdu is welcoming a new wave of European partners. The 19th EU-China Business and Technology Cooperation Fair has opened. It brings together government representatives, businesses and industry associations from more than 20 European countries to explore opportunities across traditional and emerging industries. The scale of China-EU trade is substantial. Chinese customs data shows it reached 716 billion US dollars in the first three quarters of 2026, up 8.4 percent year on year. Here at the Fair, around 200 Chinese and European companies are holding talks, looking to turn trade ties into concrete business projects. 

 

CARLOS TORRES, General Secretary, Portugal-Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce and Industry "We are here with a big delegation from Portugal. We brought around 30 companies from Portugal to attend this exhibition. We have a very good impression of Chengdu and Sichuan, and we look forward to the other sessions."

 

JOANNA LIU, Executive Director, Euro-Sino Enterprises Association "We have brought companies from the biotech, medtech and healthcare industries. We try to create more collaboration and more business opportunities for our members."

 

For businesses, the real test is whether these opportunities lead to results. And many European companies are already moving closer to that goal. 

 

DANIEL WEHRWEIN, Founder and CEO, AX1 Swiss Medical "I first came to Beijing for a conference. After I saw the potential here, I decided to come back as soon as possible and stay as long as possible. Some cooperations are already in the works. I'm pretty sure we will be able to finalize partnerships this year and start cooperation together."

 

Stable and open communication also matters. Two weeks ago, China and the EU held the second meeting under their trade and investment consultation mechanism. They reached consensus on 16 outcomes. This signals a shared commitment to addressing differences through dialogue and keeping economic cooperation on track. For businesses, that broader confidence is backed by tangible advantages on the ground. 

 

ZHANG YEJIONG, CEO, Sika (China) Co., Ltd. "China has a complete industrial chain, strong supply chains, talented people, an innovative ecosystem and a good business environment. I believe these provide a very solid foundation." 

 

Business surveys also point to China's strengths in production efficiency and global supply chains. 

 

ADAM DUNNETT, Secretary-General European Union Chamber of Commerce in China "Our members 75 percent, that's the number you just asked me about, they find out that their production facility here in China are more efficient than those anywhere else around the world. 94 percent of our members tell us that China as a souring market is either important or very important."

 

Nowadays, cooperation is also expanding beyond traditional trade into emerging technologies. 

 

LUIGI GAMBARDELLA, Chairman, ChinaEU "Now we are stepping into new areas like AI and physical robotics. I believe there are great business cooperation opportunities in robotics. What's needed now is to launch pilot projects in factories. The next step will be scaling up."

 

Since its launch in 2002, the Fair has generated more than 3,000 cooperation agreements. It connects not just businesses and markets, but technologies, industries and new opportunities. For these partners crossing continents, the next step is turning shared ambitions into projects that deliver. 

 

Edited by Zhang Yuanlin

Source: CGTN