Seminar on Legal Risks and Countermeasures in International Economic, Trade and Investment Held to Draw a New Blueprint for China-Africa Rule of Law Cooperation

Written by: Li Wenwen

Edited: Li Wenwen

Translated by: Li Tingting, Xiao Liang

Source: Publicity Department of the Party Committee

On July 12,the Conference on legal risks and the countermeasures of international investment in trade graduation ceremony of the 12th Course of China-Africa Legal Professionals Exchange Programwas held at Xiangtan University. The event was sponsored by the China Law Society, and co-organized by the China Legal Exchange Center, Xiangtan University and Hunan Law Society. Liao Yong’an, President of Xiangtan University, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech.

Yang Wanming, Vice President of the China Law Society and former Vice President of the Supreme People’s Court,Musakwa Joseph, Appeal Judge of the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe,Jia Shen, Secretary-General of the International Commercial Dispute Prevention and Settlement Organization and Liao Yong’an, President of Xiangtan University, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches.A total of 23 guests from 15 African countries, together with 45 experts and scholars from government institutions, universities, research institutes and law firms,attendedthe event. They engaged in in-depth discussions on cutting-edge issues concerning legal aspects of China-Africa economic, trade and investment cooperation, striving to draw a new blueprint for China-Africa rule of law collaboration.

Yang Wanming stressed that China-Africa legal cooperation serves as an important pillar for building the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two sides. As economic and trade exchanges grow increasingly close, practical cooperation in commercial law, judicial assistance and other fields needs to be further strengthened. Improving the dispute settlement mechanism will help create a stable and equitable rule-of-law environment for enterprises and investors, and consolidate the foundation for China-Africa economic and trade cooperation.

Musakwa Joseph noted that African countries attach great importance to legal cooperation with China. They hope to learn from China’s advanced experience inlegaldevelopment and judicial reform through this seminar, so as to advance the modernization of their own legal systems.

Jia Shen called on both sides to strengthen the alignment of arbitration and mediation mechanisms, establish an efficient and convenient cross-border dispute settlement platform, and provide solid legal guarantees for China-Africa economic and trade relations.

Liao Yong’an reviewed Xiangtan University’s achievements in China-Africa legal research and talentcultivation, pointing out that the China-Africa Legal Talent Exchange Program has become an iconic project in legal cooperation. Going forward, Xiangtan University will continue to give full play to its disciplinary strengths and contribute wisdom and strength to the development of China-Africa rule of law.

At the graduation ceremony ofthe 12th Course of China-Africa Legal Professionals Exchange Program, attending leaders and guests presented graduation certificates to all participants. Daniel Jean Alain Dangeot, Principal StateCounselof the Attorney General’s Office of Mauritius, said he would apply what he had learned and perceived in China to local rule of law practice, and promote China-Africa legal cooperation to deeper levels.

In the keynote report session, many authoritative experts conducted in-depth discussions on diverse topics. Zhang Mingqi, Deputy Director of the Academic Committee of the China Law Society, held that flexible employment models under the digital economy pose new challenges to the identification of traditional labor relations and the protection of workers’ rights and interests, and suggested improving relevant legislation.Abdelraouf Abdelhalim Abdelraouf Abouzeid, Chief Prosecutor at the Egyptian Public Prosecution, cited cases of African infrastructure construction and called for closer China-Africa cooperation in engineering legal affairs.Shen Sibao, Professor at the School of Law of University of International Business and Economics, emphasized that legal services act as a lubricant for China-Africa economic and trade cooperation, and it is imperative to build a China-Africa legal service platform with international credibility.Wang Chengjie,Vice-Chairman and Secretary-General of China International Economic and TradeArbitration Commission, introduced the practical achievements of Chinese arbitral institutions in Africa, and stated that efforts will be made to enhance arbitration transparency and strengthen the building of a China-Africa arbitrator talent pool.

The seminar set up multiple thematic discussion panels, conducting in-depth exchanges on key issues such as China-Africa investment disputes and the optimization of bilateral investment treaties. Drawing on practical experience, participating experts and scholars put forward a number of forward-looking and feasible suggestions.

Important consensus was reached at the seminar, charting a clear direction for China-Africa legal cooperation. All experts agreed that the deepening of China-Africa economic and trade investment requires rule of law as abasic. A sound legal framework and effective dispute settlement mechanism constitute the cornerstone of cooperation. Corporate compliance operation is the key to preventing risks and safeguarding investment security, making it necessary to develop a compliance system tailored to the characteristics of China-Africa cooperation. Legal research should be closely integrated with practice to provide intellectual support for policy formulation and corporate decision-making.

The seminar has built a high-level exchange platform for legal communities in China and Africa, and advanced in-depth cooperation in legal affairs concerning bilateral economic, trade and investment.