UNESCO-ICHEI Attends the Conference of Digital Trade at CIFTIS
On the afternoon of September 11, 2025, the Conference on Innovation and Development of Digital Trade in Xiong'an New Area, a key thematic event of the 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), was held in Xiong'an New Area under the theme "Digital Chains Connect the World, Trade Bridges the Future." The conference was co-hosted by the Beijing Municipal Commerce Bureau, the Trade Development Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce, the Hebei Provincial Department of Commerce, the Administrative Committee of Xiong'an New Area, and the World Trade Point Federation (WTPF).
Designed with a "1+1+N" format, the Conference featured 1 main forum, 1 digital trade achievement exhibition, and several parallel sessions. It attracted over 700 guests, including academicians and experts in digital trade, executives from central state-owned enterprises, senior leaders of multinational corporations, and representatives from international organizations and trade departments of the Belt and Road Initiative partner countries.
The International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under the auspices of UNESCO (UNESCO-ICHEI) was invited to attend and reached important cooperation agreements.
The event closely followed the latest trends in digital trade and highlighted the industrial strengths of Xiong'an New Area in fields such as digital technology, artificial intelligence, and cross-border trade. Several key reports and innovative outcomes were released, including the China Digital Trade Innovation and Development Report, the FinTech Trends Mid-Year Report 2025, and the Catalogue of Innovative Digital Products for Promotion in Xiong'an New Area. In addition, 46 digital trade application scenarios were unveiled, and launch ceremonies were held for several professional institutions, fully showcasing the innovation momentum and growth potential of Xiong'an New Area in the fields of trade in services and the digital economy. Scene from the conference Ms. BI Xiaohan, Deputy Director of UNESCO-ICHEI, signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement on behalf of the Centre with Mr. TIAN Guofeng, Executive Deputy Secretary-General of the China Association of Trade in Services (CATIS). The two parties will leverage their respective strengths to deepen collaboration in education empowerment and industry integration, with a focus on key areas such as the capacity-building system for digital talent in cross-border e-commerce. Ms. BI Xiaohan, Deputy Director of UNESCO-ICHEI, signed the Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement. (photo credit: Xiong'an Official Website) Mr. SIT Fung, Assistant Director and Chief of the IIOE Management Centre at UNESCO-ICHEI, outlined the recent plans and long-term vision of the collaboration between the two parties. He stated that within this year, the two sides will jointly release a curriculum framework based on core cross-border e-commerce skills, along with a set of Open-Access Micro-Certificate Courses. In the future, they plan to conduct in-depth research and pilot programs in key countries, gradually promote talent development standards for cross-border e-commerce, and advance the establishment of a skills certification and internationally recognized credentialing system, with the goal of cultivating more high-quality professionals to support the development of global digital trade. Mr. SIT Fung, Assistant Director and Chief of the IIOE Management Centre at UNESCO-ICHEI, delivered a speech.
As the first Category II centre in higher education established by UNESCO in China, UNESCO-ICHEI has remained committed to promoting the digital transformation of higher education in Global South countries. Its contributions to the Conference on Innovation and Development of Digital Trade in Xiong'an New Area further demonstrate the Centre's important role in digital trade development, skills building, and talent cultivation.
About the China Association of Trade in Services (CATIS) The China Association of Trade in Services (CATIS), approved by the State Council and supervised by the Ministry of Commerce, is a national industry organization established in 2007. It is dedicated to promoting innovation and international cooperation in China's trade in services. As a key platform in the field of trade in services in China, CATIS actively engages in UN-related initiatives and plays a significant role in international rule-making and capacity building in emerging areas such as digital trade and cross-border e-commerce.
