The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) successfully concluded a high-level business delegation to Beijing from 9 to 13 November 2025, highlighting Cyprus’ role as a strategic bridge between China and the European Union in technology, innovation, healthcare, services and shipping. The mission began on 9 November with a welcome dinner that brought Cypriot delegates together with their Chinese counterparts in an informal setting, offering an early opportunity for networking and exchange ahead of the main Forum and scheduled site visits.
At the centre of the mission was the 2nd ‘Belt and Road’ Economic Development Forum and EU/Cyprus-China Project Exchange and Matchmaking Meeting, held on 10 November at the Pan Pacific Hotel. Co-organised by the CCCI and the International Exchange Working Committee of the China Association of Trade in Services, the Forum was held under the theme ‘Technology Leading Development, Cooperation Creating the Future.’ It brought together senior government officials, business leaders and experts from both countries, with discussions focusing on information technology, artificial intelligence, industrial and medical technology, services and shipping. A total of 123 registered Chinese companies participated, reinforcing the Forum’s role as a dynamic platform for promoting Cyprus as a reliable partner and an investment hub for Chinese companies seeking access to the EU market.
Cyprus was represented by H.E. Ambassador Koula Sophianou, Mr. Theodoros Loukaidis, Director General of the Cyprus Research and Innovation Foundation, and CCCI President Mr. Stavros Stavrou. From the Chinese side, key participants included Mr. Yu Guodong of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Mr. Wu Wensheng of the Zhongguancun Smart City Industrial Technology Innovation Strategic Alliance, and representatives of relevant ministries and leading enterprises. The Forum was moderated by Ms. Amanda Huang, who emphasized the objective of building a practical bridge for project exchange and industrial cooperation between Cyprus, China and the wider European market, especially in technology and medical health.
In their statements, Ambassador Sophianou highlighted the importance of the Belt and Road Initiative as a platform for Cyprus-China cooperation and underlined Cyprus’ strategic location, EU membership and strong services sector. Mr. Loukaidis presented Cyprus’ research and innovation ecosystem and encouraged Chinese companies to consider Cyprus as a base for investment, research collaboration and entry into Europe. Mr. Stavrou reaffirmed the CCCI’s commitment to supporting the implementation of concrete bilateral projects, stressing the readiness of Cypriot enterprises to develop long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships in areas such as digital technologies, health, shipping, logistics and professional services.
From the Chinese side, Mr. Yu Guodong outlined China’s ongoing efforts to improve the environment for foreign investment, noting recent policy developments in high-tech and healthcare that support pilot projects in genetic diagnostics and foreign-owned hospitals. Mr. Wu Wensheng spoke about global development strategies of technology enterprises, identifying Cyprus as a potential strategic platform for Chinese companies seeking expansion in the EU, especially in smart city solutions, digital infrastructure and innovation-driven cooperation.
The Forum also featured corporate presentations by Cypriot and international companies, including KITESERVE Ltd, The Grey Arrow, Tekserv Ltd, KT Corporate Service Limited, COLUMBIA Shipmanagement, Prevention At Sea and Leptos Estates. These presentations showcased the breadth and competitiveness of Cypriot businesses and opened concrete avenues for collaboration. In the afternoon, one-on-one B2B meetings were held between Cypriot and Chinese companies, providing a focused setting for discussing specific projects, exploring investment opportunities and identifying immediate follow-up actions.
From 11 to 13 November, the delegation carried out a series of site visits and technical meetings in Beijing, including Minsheng Bank, iSoftStone, Bopin Biopharma, the National Traditional Chinese Medicine Master Hall and Bamboocloud. These visits covered areas such as fintech, cloud computing, digital platforms, biomedical research, traditional Chinese medicine and cybersecurity. During the mission, Mr. Stavrou also held meetings with the China Association of Trade in Services (CATIS) and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), where steps were agreed to deepen trade and investment ties, promote business missions and advance a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CCCI and CATIS.
Throughout the mission, the Cypriot delegation engaged in detailed discussions on potential cooperation models, including joint research and development, technology transfer, pilot projects and investment partnerships. Both sides expressed a strong commitment to transforming the exchanges in Beijing into concrete, mutually beneficial initiatives. Following this successful mission, the CCCI will work closely with Cypriot and Chinese companies and institutional partners to ensure that the opportunities generated evolve into tangible projects, new investments and long-term collaboration, further strengthening economic relations between Cyprus and China.