From September 17 to 18, 2025, the World Trade Organization (WTO) Public Forum 2025 was held in Geneva, Switzerland. The Forum was themed “Enhance, Create, and Preserve”, aiming to reflect on trade’s contribution to global economic growth and to explore pathways for the digital transformation shaping global economic interconnectedness. Over the two-day program, more than eighty seminars and discussions were convened, with approximately 4,200 registered participants from around the world, including academia, industry, the media, government agencies, diplomatic missions, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations.

WTO Co-chair at UIBE Professor Ji Wenhua of the School of Law, University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), was once again invited to attend.

While in Geneva, Professor Ji paid a special visit to WTO Deputy Director-General Zhang Xiangchen to seek research advice; paid a special visit to Li Yihong, Minister-Counsellor and Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of China’s Permanent Mission to the WTO, to brief him on relevant research; held in-depth exchanges and discussions with leaders of relevant departments of China’s Permanent Mission to the WTO; and exchanged reports with the delegation from China’s Ministry of Commerce attending the Forum, receiving active support and recognition from all sides.

During the event, Professor Ji also took part in multiple seminars, actively offering comments and raising questions—amplifying the voice and influence of WTO Chair at UIBE and achieving solid results.

At the large-scale opening session on the morning of September 17, Professor Ji took the floor during the exchange segment to raise a question, expressing concern about the negative impact of certain advanced economies’ controls on AI services and technology trade in the context of AI-empowered development of international trade. This marked the third consecutive year that Professor Ji was among the first to engage in the Q&A of the WTO Public Forum’s opening plenary, which has helped enhance the participation and visibility of WTO Chair at UIBE in international fora.

During the Forum, Professor Ji also engaged extensively with fellow participants, speakers, and renowned experts in the field, further consolidating and expanding his international network and laying a solid foundation for broader international academic cooperation.

Link: https://law.uibe.edu.cn/xwzx/xzhd/937c336b3e154597a77f4b125b93d46f.htm