On June 12th, 2018, International Symposium on Global Economy and Sustainable Development and Conference on Intercollegiate Research collaboration on Global Economy and Sustainability (URNGES) , sponsored by Center for Global Economy and Sustainable Development （GESD）and co-organized by the Research Management Office and the International Cooperation Division, was held in Zhongcai Building.

Nearly 30 participants from China, India, Thailand, France, Britain, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Mexico, the United States, Canada and other countries participated in the 2018 International Symposium. Focusing on the theme of "Opportunities and Challenges of Global Economy and Sustainable Development in the 21st Century", the participants had a warm academic exchange on the theory and practice of sustainable development, and discussed the future work practices of the URNGES.

Professor Li Guijun, Director of Center for Global Economy and Sustainable Development(GESD) and Director of the Research Management Office of Central University of Finance and Economics (CUFE), presided over the opening ceremony. Professor Michael Nobel, Chairman of the Nobel Trust for Sustainable Development, and Dr Negashkumar, Director of Social Development of U.N. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), respectively delivered keynote speeches on the importance of sustainable issues and the challenges of social development in the Asia-Pacific region.