On April 23, 2025, Mr. Zhong WU, Director-General of the Finance Center for South-South Cooperation (FCSSC), Ms. Meixiang ZHOU, Deputy Director-General, and Ms. Luxi ZHANG, Director of Social Affairs Department, visited UNESCO-ICHEI. Mr. Ke WU, Assistant to Dean and Research Associate Professor at the Institute of Risk Analysis, Prediction and Management, Southern University of Science and Technology, also joined the visit. Both sides exchanged views on digital and AI training, industry-education integration, South-North-South collaboration, and the organization of regional and international events.

Group photo of attendees

Ms. Xiaohan BI, Deputy Director of UNESCO-ICHEI, and Mr. SIT Fung, Assistant Director Chief of IIOE Management Centre at UNESCO-ICHEI, introduced the IIOE global partnership network and key initiatives and projects aimed at strengthening the digital and AI literacy of the global higher education workforce.

Ms. Xiaohan BI, Deputy Director of UNESCO-ICHEI

Mr. Sit Fung, Assistant Director Chief of IIOE Management Centre at UNESCO-ICHEI

Mr. Zhong WU, Director-General of FCSSC, shared FCSSC's work within the framework of the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He outlined FCSSC's efforts in promoting international cooperation on industrial capacity, facilitating high-level exchanges, providing financial services, and supporting policy research for developing countries. Mr. Wu expressed interest in working closely with UNESCO-ICHEI in areas such as resource and network sharing, digital and AI literacy training, and the implementation of international projects.

Mr. Zhong WU, Director-General of FCSSC

Mr. Ming LI, Founding Director of UNESCO-ICHEI and Secretary-General of the IIOE Secretariat, noted that both sides share strong complementarities and common goals in supporting the digital transformation of education and industry in developing countries. He stated that UNESCO-ICHEI is committed to leveraging the IIOE learning platform and its resources to deliver localized digital training, host regional and international events, and help cultivate digital talent for industrial development and sustainable growth, contributing to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Mr. Ming LI, Founding Director of UNESCO-ICHEI and Secretary-General of IIOE Secretariat

Both sides reached a preliminary consensus on signing a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a communication and coordination mechanism. In the future, the two sides will leverage their respective platforms and networks to jointly promote the implementation of South-North-South cooperation projects in developing countries.

The South-South Financial Cooperation Center (SSFCC) 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).