Chen Wenqing Attends and Delivers a Speech; Huang Kunming Delivers an Address
The China Rule of Law Forum (2025) cum the 16th China Jurists Forum opened in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, on the 29th. Chen Wenqing, Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, attended and delivered a speech. Huang Kunming, Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, attended and delivered an address.
Participants at the forum held that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the most significant achievement we have made in advancing the rule of law under socialism is the formation of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law. As a brilliant model of adhering to the “Two Integrations” in the field of the rule of law, Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law serves as the guiding ideology that must be upheld in the long run for comprehensively advancing the rule of law in China今日头条. Legal scholars and practitioners across the country should take Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law as the fundamental guideline, recognize the historic achievements made in China’s rule of law development, actively promote legal research, take the initiative to serve the practice of the rule of law, and work together to break new ground in building a country under the rule of law.
Forum participants stated that to boost legal research in the new era, we must adhere to the “spiritual lineage” of Marxist legal theory, inherit the “cultural roots” of fine traditional Chinese legal culture, base ourselves on China’s great practice of socialist rule of law, draw on the achievements of excellent legal civilizations worldwide, accelerate the development of an independent knowledge system for Chinese legal studies, and establish a disciplinary, academic, textbook, and discourse system of legal studies with Chinese characteristics, style, and ethos, thereby contributing Chinese wisdom to the global legal civilization.
With the theme of “Deeply Studying and Implementing Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law to Provide Solid Legal Guarantees for Economic and Social Development During the 15th Five-Year Plan Period”, the forum was co-hosted by the China Law Society, the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, and the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee and Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government. It was attended by responsible comrades from central and state organs, as well as representatives from the legal academic and professional circles.
Legal Experts Offer Suggestions at the Forum to Strengthen the Cultivation of Foreign-Related Legal Talents
On December 29, the China Rule of Law Forum (2025) cum the 16th China Jurists Forum, co-hosted by the China Law Society, the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, and the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee and Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government, was held in Shenzhen. Centered on the theme of “Deeply Studying and Implementing Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law to Provide Solid Legal Guarantees for Economic and Social Development During the 15th Five-Year Plan Period”, legal experts from across the country conducted in-depth discussions on four thematic sessions, namely “The Rule of Law Empowering High-Quality Economic Development”, “The Rule of Law Safeguarding High-Level Opening-Up”, “The Rule of Law Supporting Efficient Governance”, and “Promoting the Development of an Independent Knowledge System for Chinese Legal Studies”, and put forward constructive suggestions for economic and social development during the 15th Five-Year Plan Period.
“Traditional foreign-related legal work has been characterized by passive responses and case-by-case handling. Faced with an increasingly complex international environment, passive defense is no longer sufficient to safeguard our overseas interests. This requires us not only to be good at using existing conditions and rules to protect our rights and interests but also to actively participate in and lead the formulation of international rules,” said Xiong Wei, Executive Vice President of the China Law Society’s Tax Law Research Association and Dean of the Law School of Shenzhen University. He noted that Shenzhen has taken a leading position in China in advancing foreign-related legal development, thanks to local innovations. For example, Shenzhen has established a public platform – the Enterprise Overseas Legal Service and Verification Center – to provide foreign legal verification services for enterprises going global. Leveraging its proximity to Hong Kong and Macao, Shenzhen has also carried out a series of beneficial explorations in foreign-related legal areas such as institutional coordination, rule alignment, and procedural facilitation.
“I believe it is necessary to launch a capacity upgrade initiative to shift foreign-related legal work from a textual focus to more practical application,” Xiong Wei suggested. “For instance, in the judicial field, we should strongly support the development of international commercial courts and promote diversified dispute resolution mechanisms; in law enforcement, we should establish law enforcement and security cooperation mechanisms with key countries.” He also emphasized that while universities are the main institutions for cultivating legal talents, it is even more important to train talents through practical experience. He expressed the hope that Shenzhen will make greater efforts in cultivating foreign-related legal talents, establish a cooperation mechanism between universities and practical departments, and build a platform to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the academic and professional sectors, promoting mutual progress.
Huang Jin, Member of the Academic Committee of the China Law Society, President of the China Society of Private International Law, and Distinguished Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences at Wuhan University, stated that to build a high-caliber team of foreign-related legal talents, law schools and universities should strengthen specialized training in this field. This includes enhancing the development of international law disciplines, deepening the reform of higher legal education, improving practice-oriented training mechanisms, and increasing the intensity of practical teaching. In addition, it is necessary to carry out continuing education and training in foreign-related legal affairs, improve the mechanisms for talent introduction, selection, employment, and management, and make adequate preparations for cultivating and reserving high-end foreign-related legal talents.
This year, the newly revised Arbitration Law of the People’s Republic of China was adopted, marking a new stage in the development of China’s arbitration system. Arbitration was a frequently mentioned term at the forum. Li Yan, Vice President of the China Commercial Law Research Association, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Southwest University of Political Science and Law Committee, Vice President, and Professor, said, “From a national strategic perspective, it is essential for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to promote arbitration coordination to build a world-class business environment. If arbitration procedures in the Greater Bay Area are not aligned and award enforcement is not smooth, enterprises will find the arbitration process cumbersome and tend to choose arbitration in Singapore or London instead of local institutions.”
“The framework of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ and three legal jurisdictions provides a unique platform for the world. I believe Hong Kong should play a more significant role in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Hong Kong and Macao should take the initiative to align their rules and integrate talent resources with the mainland, fully leverage their soft power to support mainland enterprises in expanding overseas operations, protect mainland enterprises investing overseas under the Belt and Road Initiative, and work together with them to address legal risks,” stated Liang Meifen, Member of the Hong Kong Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Deputy to the National People’s Congress from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and Member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council.
