On February 27, 2025, the United Nations University an East China Normal University signed a Memorandum of Understanding on AI-Finance cooperation. The signing was witnessed by Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the UNU and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Prof. Qian Xuhong, President of ECNU.
The MOU aims to promote cooperation in research, education, and policy advocacy in the field of AI-finance. The partnership will focus on four main pillars: research, development, and innovation; education and capacity building; international events; and policy advocacy and development. The cooperation will be implemented by UNU Macau and the Shanghai AI-Finance School at ECNU.

The signing ceremony was followed by a keynote speech from Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala, who emphasized the importance of AI-driven innovations for equitable and sustainable growth.

This collaboration will leverage the expertise of both institutions to foster innovation and address critical challenges in AI-finance. The partnership marks a significant step in advancing AI technologies and sustainable development goals.