On July 7, the 12th Legal Alliance Summit for China's Political and Legal Science Colleges and Universities convened in Chongqing. Hosted by Southwest University of Political Science and Law, the summit centered on the theme "Translating and Practicing Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, Boosting Legal Education and Research in the New Era." Representatives from the nine-member colleges and universities of the Legal Alliance attended the summit, including CUPL Council Chair Hu Ming, President Ma Huaide, Vice Presidents Chang Baoguo, along with heads of relevant departments and offices.
(The 12th Legal Alliance Summit held in Chongqing, photo credit: Southwest University of Political Science and Law)
At the opening ceremony, Wang Daquan, Deputy Director General of the Department of Policies and Regulations, Ministry of Education, Yang Zhanfu, Vice President of the Fifth Circuit Court of the Supreme People's Court, Ding Tianqiu, Deputy Director General of the Bureau of Legal Professional Qualifications Administration, Ministry of Justice, and Lu Jun, Deputy Prosecutor General of the People's Procuratorate of Chongqing, delivered speeches respectively. Fu Zitang, President and Vice Council Chair of Southwest University of Political Science and Law extended a warm welcome. CUPL Council Chair Hu Ming also delivered a speech.
(Hu Ming delivering a speech, photo credit: Southwest University of Political Science and Law)
CUPL Council Chair Hu Ming emphasized the achievements of the Legal Alliance since its establishment in 2010, highlighting its role in strengthening legal disciplines, reforming legal education, and fostering theoretical innovation. He acknowledged the significance of the alliance's contribution to building a legal education system and supporting law-based governance in China.
Hu Ming pointed out that the Opinion on Strengthen Legal Education and Legal Theory Research released by the General Offices of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council in earlier this year, marked the initiation of constructing a high-quality legal education system and innovating legal theory research in the new era . This paved the way for further reform and innovation. With a focus on translating and practicing Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and boosting legal education and research in the new era, this summit further promoted the implementation of the Opinion.
Hu Ming emphasized that the Legal Alliance should remain committed to its original aspiration, assume its honorable responsibility on cultivating talent and providing legal supports and work in solidarity, so as to deliver more contributions to the refinement of China’s legal system.
Following the opening ceremony, a seminar was held, during which CUPL President Ma Huaide delivered the first keynote speech on "Direction of Constructing Law-related Discipline in the New Era."
(Ma Huaide making the first keynote speech, photo credit: Southwest University of Political Science and Law)
Ma Huaide emphasized that to achieve innovation-driven development in the legal discipline system, it is crucial to gain a comprehensive understanding of our path, goals, and approach. In this context, he outlined three key aspects. there should be concerted efforts to establish a disciplinary foundation for law-based governance and socialist rule of law. endeavors should be directed towards laying a disciplinary foundation for the in-depth exploration of theories related to socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics. Third, initiatives should focus on establishing a disciplinary platform to cultivate legal talent equipped with both professional skills and ethics.
Ma Huaide also shared insights from CUPL's experiences. He highlighted the necessity of aligning with the national strategy, expanding first-class legal disciplines, and increasing exposure to a broader spectrum of legal knowledge. Simultaneously, there is a need to persistently optimize discipline priorities, enhance the legal discipline system, and recognize that constructing such a system is a comprehensive project.
Furthermore, Ma Huaide emphasized the role of the Legal Alliance in accurately translating the content of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law. The alliance should consider the national context, align with the prevailing trends, emphasize its distinctive features, draw from successful models, reinforce foundational, emerging, and interdisciplinary law-related disciplines, optimize the overall disciplinary structure, and cater to national needs. Through these efforts, the alliance can contribute theoretical, intellectual, and talent support to the construction of a law-based modern socialist country.
Guo Weilu, Council Chair of East China University of Political Science and Law, Fan Jiuli, President of Northwest University of Political Science and Law, Yao Li, Vice President of Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Jiao Shengrong, Council Chair of Gansu University of Political Science and Law, Ge Weihua, Council Chair of Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, Lu Tao, President of Shandong University of Political Science and Law, Si Linsheng, Council Chair of Henan University of Economics and Law and Fu Zitang, President of Southwest University of Political Science and Law delivered keynote speeches respectively.
The parallel sessions involved discussions on topics such as optimizing legal discipline systems, advancing the construction of first-class legal disciplines, and accelerating the development of legal education systems to cultivate high-quality legal talent.
The closing ceremony saw the announcement that the 13th Legal Alliance Summit would be hosted by Xinjiang University of Political Science and Law. The Logo of the Summit was passed in a symbolic ceremony.
Established on May 30, 2010, by five prominent law schools in China - China University of Political Science and Law, Southwest University of Political Science and Law, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, East China University of Political Science and Law, and Northwest University of Political Science and Law - the "Legal Alliance" was founded with the primary goal of "establishing standards." The name reflects the alliance's commitment to setting rules, defining standards, and constructing systems.
Over the years, four additional law schools - Gansu University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, Shandong University of Political Science and Law, and Henan University of Economics and Law - joined the alliance. Today, it has evolved into a nationally influential forum for legal discourse and a significant platform for communication on legal education.
In recent years, members of the Legal Alliance and other universities have proactively responded to the needs of the CPC and the nation, explored innovative approaches to fostering legal talent, advanced Plan on Educating and Cultivating Excellent Legal Talent proposed by Ministry of Education, put in place Plan on Comprehensive Reform of Legal Major and Education and Cultivation of Excellent Legal Talent, and issued Legal Education Standard of Legal Alliance.
Committed to the original aspiration of establishing standards for legal education, the Legal Alliance has played a positive in translating and implementing the documents released by the Central Committee of the CPC and the State Council, sharing high-quality legal education resources, elevating the quality of legal talent cultivation, promoting exploration in legal education, and supporting comprehensive law-based governance initiatives in the country.
