On July 16, 2025, Mr. TANG Min, Former Counselor of the State Council and Founder of the China Cross-border E-commerce 50 Forum, and Ms. ZUO Xiaolei, Former Chief Economist of Galaxy Securities, paid a visit to UNESCO-ICHEI. They were accompanied by Mr. TIAN Guofeng, Executive Deputy Secretary-General of the China Association of Trade in Services (CATIS); Mr. YUAN Jiakai, Executive Director-General of the Finance Center for South-South Cooperation (FCSSC); and Ms. ZHANG Luxi, Director of the Department of Social Affairs Development at FCSSC. The meeting centered on the deep integration of cross-border e-commerce, digital finance, and education. All parties engaged in in-depth discussions on establishing multilateral international cooperation mechanisms to support the digital transformation of higher education in developing countries.

The meeting was moderated by Ms. BI Xiaohan, Deputy Director of UNESCO-ICHEI. Mr. Sit Fung, Assistant Director & Chief of the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE) Management Centre, and Mr. CAO Zian, Chief of the Global Partnership and Programme Office (GPPO), presented UNESCO-ICHEI's innovative practices to the guests. Their presentation highlighted efforts to build a global platform for higher education resource sharing and to support the digitalization and localization of artificial intelligence capabilities within universities across the Global South.

Ms. BI Xiaohan, Deputy Director of UNESCO-ICHEI	Mr. SIT Fung, Assistant Director & Chief of IIOE Management Centre at UNESCO-ICHEI	Mr. CAO Zian, Chief of GPPO at UNESCO-ICHEI

Mr. TANG Min noted that cross-border e-commerce has become a vital engine for driving economic growth and job creation in developing countries. He expressed his hope that UNESCO-ICHEI will fully leverage its extensive partner network. Looking ahead, he emphasized the importance of developing a comprehensive cross-border e-commerce curriculum system, with a focus on supporting countries in the Global South to cultivate skilled professionals in this field, thereby contributing to local economic development and enhancing employment opportunities. Ms. ZUO Xiaolei provided an international financial perspective on the development of digital payment systems, with a particular focus on the future application of stablecoin mechanisms to enhance cross-border trade. She pointed to the urgent challenges developing countries face in building digital infrastructure and reliable payment channels. In this context, she emphasized the significant role that Chinese platform enterprises and educational resources can play in global outreach, providing critical capacity-building support and acting as a catalyst for sustainable development in these regions.

Mr. TANG Min, Former Counselor of the State Council and Founder of the China Cross-border E-commerce 50 Forum	Ms. ZUO Xiaolei, Former Chief Economist of Galaxy Securities

Mr. TIAN Guofeng, Executive Deputy Secretary-General of CATIS, provided a comprehensive overview of the association's strategic priorities in cross-border e-commerce and digital trade. He explained that CATIS is developing a "pyramid-shaped" talent development system that integrates foundational knowledge, technical skills, and innovation capabilities. This system is supported by structured training programs, scenario-based instructional design, and targeted policy implementation. Mr. TIAN emphasized the association's commitment to strengthening collaborative talent cultivation with higher education institutions, promoting the standardization of cross-border e-commerce curricula, and advancing the co-development and sharing of high-quality teaching resources. Mr. YUAN Jiakai, Executive Director-General of FCSSC, called for deeper collaboration with UNESCO-ICHEI in the areas of global education governance and digital capacity building. He stressed the importance of leveraging the international platforms of both organizations to support the localization and broader implementation of China's successful development experiences across a wider range of developing countries.

Mr. TIAN Guofeng, Executive Deputy Secretary-General of CATIS	Mr. YUAN Jiakai, Executive Director-General of FCSSC

Mr. LI Ming, Founding Director of UNESCO-ICHEI and Secretary-General of the IIOE Secretariat, emphasized in his concluding remarks that cross-border e-commerce and digital finance are becoming key drivers of education's digital transformation in developing countries. Leveraging the IIOE's global partnership network, UNESCO-ICHEI will work closely with leading institutions such as CATIS and FCSSC to develop educational resources more closely aligned with the specific needs of developing countries. These efforts aim to contribute to global digital economic growth and advance education equity worldwide.

Ms. BI Xiaohan, Deputy Director of UNESCO-ICHEI, stated that IIOE will focus on developing specialized curriculum systems in key vertical fields and will continue to deepen collaboration with industry partners to better support the global digital transformation of education. By aligning with the needs of emerging industries, establishing teaching standards, and implementing targeted measures, the IIOE courses aim to significantly enhance awareness and capacity in emerging industry education across developing countries.

Mr. PAN Feng, Deputy Director of UNESCO-ICHEI, added that the IIOE will further strengthen partnerships with industry players to promote the coordinated development of technological resources and curriculum content. This collaboration will support the cultivation of interdisciplinary talent equipped with strong innovation capabilities and industry-relevant skills.

Mr. LI Ming, Founding Director of UNESCO-ICHEI & Secretary-General of IIOE Secretariat	Mr. PAN Feng, Deputy Director of UNESCO-ICHEI

This exchange marks an important new step for UNESCO-ICHEI in advancing industry-education integration. Moving forward, UNESCO-ICHEI will continue to collaborate with a wide range of partners to promote resource sharing and drive innovation in mechanisms related to digital education, trade in services, and skills development. These efforts aim to help countries in the Global South seize opportunities in the digital economy and contribute lasting momentum toward advancing global education equity and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

   About the Finance Center for South-South Cooperation 

The Finance Center for South-South Cooperation (FCSSC) is a non-profit international organization registered in Hong Kong in April 2014. It operates under the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda as a comprehensive platform dedicated to advancing South-South cooperation through industrial capacity collaboration, knowledge sharing, and financial services. Since 2017, the SSFCC has held Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

     About the China Association of Trade in Services

The China Association of Trade in Services (CATIS) is a national industry organization approved by the State Council and administered by the Ministry of Commerce. Founded in 2007, CATIS is committed to promoting innovation and international cooperation in China's trade in services. As a key platform in this field, CATIS actively participates in United Nations-related initiatives and contributes to the formulation of international rules and capacity-building efforts in emerging areas such as digital trade and cross-border e-commerce.