More Exchanges of China-ASEAN in the Legal Community Under BRI

CHONGQING,China,Dec. 20,2022 -- A news report from iChongqing:

The 4th China-ASEAN Legal Cooperation Forum kicked off in Southwest China's Chongqing on December 17. (iChongqing/ Wang Yiling)

To promote high-quality development of the Belt and Road through rule of law cooperation,the 4th China-ASEAN Legal Cooperation Forumkicked off in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on December 17.

More than 150 guests from government departments,judiciary departments,universities,bar associations,and arbitration associations fromChina and ASEANcountries attended the forum online andoffline,exchanging and sharing their views and understanding of major legal issues.

Achievements and experiences in legal cooperation between China and ASEAN and legal issues associated with the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.

The list of Typical Cases of Legal Services in the Construction of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area,which 19 law firms compiled from China and ASEAN,was released at the forum,providing references and inspiration for promoting the development of high-quality legal services in free trade zones.

A further achievement of cooperation in the legal community was publishing of two books,theLegal Practice Guide for Foreign Investment in Cambodiaand theLegal Practice Guide for Foreign Investment in Vietnam.

The books cover legal systems such as investment access,land,labor employment,and investment dispute settlement,which enables Chinese investors to fully understand the investment environment and investment-related laws and policies in Cambodia and Vietnam.

Also,at the forum,a China-Laos Legal Research and Consultation Center was unveiled,aiming to enhance bilateral cooperation in legislative research,legal database construction,and talent training.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation between China and ASEAN and the entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Thus,the Belt and Road forum is of the utmost importance for promoting quality development along the Belt and Road in a legal manner,according to Fu Zitang,president of Southwest University of Political Science and Law (SWUPL).

Establishing the China-ASEAN Legal Research Center (CALC) and the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Legal Research Center,the SWUPL aims to build a high-level cooperation platform for the exchanges of China-ASEAN in the legal community,said Li Mingquan,deputy director of Chongqing Foreign Affairs Office.

Established in 2010,the CALC aims to focus on research on the rule of law in the China-ASEAN region,an ASEAN legal database,and the training of legal talents for ASEAN affairs through integrating Chinese and ASEAN law and legal resources.