On March 19, 2016, UIBE, the World Bank, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) jointly signed a Memorandum of Cooperation at the China Development Forum - Global Value Chain and Inclusive Coordinated Development Sub-forum held at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, which marked UIBE's high starting point, internationalization and its prominence in the field of global value chain research.

UIBE President Shi Jianjun, Senior Director of the World Bank Group Trade and Competitiveness Global Practice Board Anabel Gonzalez, Supervisor of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Statistics Department Nadim Ahmad, and WTO Deputy Director-General David Sharks, officially signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to promote the development and evolution of global value chain, and planned to cooperate according to a clear timetable based on global value chain cooperation and research conducted by above-mentioned organizations, especially on the jointly-issued Global Value Chain Report. This not only marked the establishment of an innovative cooperation model of integrating resource advantages, group research and building world-class research of international leading institutions in this field, but also significantly marked UIBE's domestic and international prominence, and as a leader in the field of global value chain research.

Zhao Zhongxiu, the Vice President of UIBE and Dean of Global Value Chain Research Institute on the Chinese side and Wang Zhi, overseas Dean of Global Value Chain Research Institute accompanied President Shi Jianjun to the forum and witnessed the signing of Memorandum.