Beijing Venue
Hainan Venue
On July 30th, 2025, the meeting on the development of China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL) Hainan International College was convened simultaneously at dual venues in Hainan and Beijing with hybrid participation. The attendees included: Cui Ying, Deputy Director-General of the Hainan Provincial Department of Education; Wu Haifeng, Party Secretary of Lingshui County and Council Chair of the Lingshui Li’an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone Administrative Committee; leaders from international partner institutions; and CUPL leadership comprising Council Chair Jiang Zeting, President Ma Huaide, Vice Council Chair Huang Ruiyu, along with Vice Presidents Lu Chunlong, Wang Min, Liu Yanhong, Yu Fei, and Wang Hongsong. The meeting was also attended by relevant departments, faculty leaders, experts in Sino-foreign cooperative education, internship providers, alumni, and student representatives. The meeting was chaired by CUPL Vice President Lu Chunlong.
Professor Marie-Eve Sylvestre, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ottawa, delivered a speech
Representatives from international partner institutions addressed the meeting. Professor Marie-Eve Sylvestre, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ottawa, stated that the university remains committed to fostering international engagement and highly values academic institutions worldwide. She expressed her aspiration for both universities to develop joint programs in law, business, and English studies, cultivate globally competent professionals, and establish a new model of international academic partnership.
Professor Adam Habib, Director of SOAS, delivered a speech
Professor Adam Habib, Director of The School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS) University of London, affirmed that SOAS and CUPL share a common mission and values in pursuing academic excellence and fostering global dialogue. He emphasized that the establishment of the CUPL Hainan International College would nurture a new generation of globally competent professionals, advance the rule of law, and enhance academic exchange between China and countries including the UK.
Professor Margaret Topping, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement at Queen’s University Belfast, delivered a speech
Professor Margaret Topping, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement at Queen’s University Belfast, highlighted that Hainan International College aims to cultivate professionals with global perspectives. She expressed hope that the college would serve as a vital new platform to enhance bilateral cooperation, particularly through developing high-quality joint education programs that would offer more opportunities to students in Hainan.
At the meeting, CUPL President Ma Huaide and Liu Ming, Executive Deputy Director of the Lingshui Li’an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone Administrative Committee, jointly signed a Memorandum of Cooperation. Under the framework of national laws, regulations, and policies, both parties are committed to promoting the development of Sino-foreign cooperative education institutions in accordance with the terms of this memorandum.
CUPL Vice President Wang Hongsong and Executive Deputy Director Liu Ming jointly launched the planning and design of Hainan International College
CUPL Council Chair Jiang Zeting emphasized that the establishment of Hainan International College represents a concrete action to thoroughly implement the guiding principles of General Secretary Xi Jinping on the Hainan Free Trade Port, as well as a key initiative to actively integrate into the overall development of the Free Trade Port. He called for closer and more efficient cooperation with Hainan Province in terms of policy implementation, resource allocation, infrastructure development, and industry-academia-research synergy. The College is envisioned to become an international talent hub driving Hainan’s high-standard openness, a strategic base for cultivating foreign-related legal professionals, and a crucial platform for mutual learning between Chinese and foreign legal civilizations.
Cui Ying, Deputy Director-General of the Hainan Provincial Department of Education, noted that Hainan’s initiative to build an “Island of International Education Innovation” serves as a strategic catalyst of the Hainan Free Trade Port. By concentrating high-quality resources to establish new schools and promote education, the province aims to address both national strategic priorities and regional socioeconomic development needs. She pledged full support for CUPL’s endeavors in Hainan in teaching, talent cultivation, and international cooperation, with the goal of exploring new practices in foreign-related legal research and innovation under the Free Trade Port framework.
Wu Haifeng, Party Secretary of Lingshui County and Council Chair of the Lingshui Li’an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone Administrative Committee, stated that the establishment of CUPL Hainan International College in the Pilot Zone demonstrates the joint commitment by the university and local authorities to support national strategies and advance the Hainan Free Trade Port initiative. It also represents another fruitful achievement in building the “Study in Hainan” brand. The Administrative Committee of the Pilot Zone will work closely with CUPL to leverage the preferential policies of the Free Trade Port and build a world-class legal education brand and high-level talent cultivation base to provide intellectual capital and professional expertise for the development of the Free Trade Port.
Subsequently, an unveiling ceremony for CUPL Hainan International College was held at its designated office area in the Pilot Zone Library, marking the official commencement of the College’s preliminary operations.
Following the meeting, a roundtable was convened on standardizing Sino-foreign cooperative education development in the Hainan Free Trade Port. Moderated by CUPL Vice President Lu Chunlong, the session brought together experts in transnational education and CUPL faculty leaders to examine critical aspects including compliance management, regulatory systems, academic coordination, research collaboration, and institutional advantages in joint education initiatives. The participating experts also offered constructive suggestions for CUPL’s upcoming program accreditation processes.
It is reported that on April 28 this year, CUPL and the Hainan Provincial Government signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Haikou and held unveiling ceremonies for CUPL’s Hainan Free Trade Port Institute for Rule of Law and Hainan International College. The provincial-university agreement stipulates that the two parties will leverage these newly established institutions to deepen cooperation in the areas of rule of law development, talent cultivation, and scientific research, thereby supporting the high-quality development of the Hainan Free Trade Port and advancing CUPL’s “Double First-Class” university initiative.
