The University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), situated in China's capital Beijing, was founded in 1951 as the Beijing Institute of Foreign Trade. In 1960 it was designated as a "key university" by the government for its outstanding programs. In May 1997 UIBE was put on the list of "Project 211" universities, a governmental program aimed at turning about 100 Chinese universities into exceptionally high quality academic institutions in the new century. UIBE was under the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (the present Ministry of Commerce) until 1999. In 2000, UIBE became one of the state universities under the leadership of the Ministry of Education, and in June of the same year it merged with China Institute of Finance and has since then become one of the leaders in the studies of business and finance.

UIBE consists of the School of International Educa-tion, School of International Trade and Economics, School of Finance, School of International Business Management, School of International Studies, School of Foreign Languages, School of Law, Sino-German School, School of Continuing Education, School of Humanities and Public Administration Management, School of Information Management, Department of Insurance, and Department of Graduate Studies. Among the over 40 bachelor, master and doctoral programs that UIBE offers, International Trade, International Economic Law, English Language and International Business Management have been designated as key programs under "Project 211".

In December 1989, UIBE became the first university in China that had a Board of Trustees composed of members from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (the present Ministry of Commerce), Bank of China, People's Insurance Company of China, Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce, etc. Li Lanqing, former Vice-Premier of the State Council, took the chair for its first session, and Wu Yi, Vice-Premier of the State Council, chaired the Board for its second session.

At present, UIBE has a total enrollment of more than 24,000 students coming from 30 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in China as well as over 50 countries and regions in the world. The university invites dozens of foreign academic professionals to teach or lecture every year in addition to its 1,400 teaching and administrative staff members who carry out its regular curricula.

UIBE is one of the first universities in China to initiate academic exchanges with foreign academic institutions. Currently UIBE has exchange programs with over 60 universities and institutes in more than 20 countries and regions, including Australia, Britain, Canada, the United States, Germany, France, Finland, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, and Russia.

In the past few decades UIBE has been proud of the performance of its graduates, many of whom now play active roles in promoting business and economic cooperation between China and other countries. UIBE welcomes more and more outstanding candidates to join its programs and enjoy a bright future in the new century.