On 8 December, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the WTO, paid a visit to University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), WTO Chair in Beijing. Over 10 distinguished guests and renowned scholars participated in her visit, including Mr. Zhang Xiangchen, Deputy Director-General of the WTO; Mr. Tomochika Uyama, Senior Advisor to the WTO Director-General; Mr. Yi Xiaozhun, former Deputy Director-General of the WTO; and Mr. Han Yong, Director-General of the Department of WTO Affairs in the Ministry of Commerce, etc. Faculty and student representatives were also in attendance, including University Vice President Wang Qiang, WTO Chairholder Prof. Tu Xinquan, WTO Co-chair Prof. Ji Wenhua, and professors from the Research Institute for Global Value Chains, Law School, and the Department of International Relations.

During her visit, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala visited the China Institute for WTO Studies (CIWTO). WTO Chairholder and Dean of CIWTO, Prof. Tu Xinquan provided an in-depth overview of the institute’s significant accomplishments in the field of international trade in recent years to her excellency. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala also met with faculty and student representatives from UIBE and had a heated discussion on recent hot issues.

UIBE President Prof. Zhao Zhongxiu warmly welcomed her excellency and presented university’s distinctive features and research achievements, particularly in WTO studies, the digital economy, digital trade, and Global Value Chains (GVCs). Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala commended UIBE’s achivements and praised CIWTO for its outstanding contributions as a WTO Chair in promoting WTO principles, advancing research on multilateral trade rules, and nurturing talent in the field of international trade.

During the Q&A session, both Chinese and international student representatives engaged actively with her excellency, discussing a range of topics, including the evolution of the multilateral trading system, the importance of developing economies joining the WTO, and the impact of AI technology on international trade. Concluding the meeting, Dr Okonjo-Iweala posed for a group photograph with faculty and students. She encouraged the students to persist in their academic pursuits, strengthen their practical skills, and contribute their knowledge and efforts to the sustainable development of the multilateral trading system.

Following her visit, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala shared a post on her personal social media platform, expressing her deep appreciation for the opportunity to visit UIBE and to engage in such meaningful exchanges with faculty and students.

Before the visit, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala also toured the Economic and Trade Museum at UIBE, gaining a comprehensive insight into the university’s significant role in advancing China’s opening-up initiatives and its notable achievements in foreign trade.