Established in May 1952, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade consists of VIPs, enterprises and organizations that represent the economic and trade sectors in China.

The CCPIT is dedicated to engaging in and promoting foreign trade, attracting foreign investment, introducing advanced foreign technologies and conducting activities of Sino-foreign economic and technological cooperation in various forms, so as to promote mutual understanding and friendship with people and business communities all over the world, in line with the law and government policies of the People's Republic of China as well as international practice.

The CCPIT is now the largest and one of the most important institutions for the promotion of foreign trade in China, with substantial international influence. The CCPIT has established connections with more than 200 business communities around the world, signed cooperation agreements with more than 300 organizations, initiated 34 multilateral or bilateral regional cooperation mechanisms and established 21 bilateral business councils. It has also joined many important international organizations including the International Chamber of Commerce, World Intellectual Property Organization, International Association for the Protection of Industrial Property, Licensing Executives Society International, International Maritime Committee, Union of International Fairs, International Federation of Commercial Arbitration Institutions, and the Pacific Basin Economic Council. It now has representative offices in 17 countries and regions, as well as 50 sub-councils in the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under central governments, 826 branches and 22 sector-oriented sub-councils, such as in the fields of electronics and machinery. The CCPIT has now attracted more than 110,000 member companies.