On the morning of November 3, the opening ceremony of the 2nd China-Latin America and Caribbean (China-LAC) Region Legal Professionals Exchange Program was held at the Haidian Campus of China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL). The program is hosted by the China Law Society and organized by CUPL’s Academy for the Foreign-Related Rule of Law, Zhejiang University Guanghua Law School, and Shanghai University of Finance and Economics Law School. It brings together 28 participants from 11 LAC countries for systematic theoretical and practical training. This initiative aims to cultivate interdisciplinary legal professionals equipped to meet the demands of global governance and legal cooperation, thereby advancing China-LAC legal exchanges to greater breadth and depth. The Academy for the Foreign-Related Rule of Law hosted the Beijing segment of the program.
To facilitate the full participation of legal professionals from LAC countries, the opening ceremony provided simultaneous interpretation in Chinese, English, and Spanish. This arrangement demonstrates full respect for linguistic and cultural differences and offers solid support for multilingual professional exchange.
The opening ceremony was chaired by Jing Hanchao, a Member of the Party Leadership Group, Vice President and Secretary-General of the China Law Society.
Wang Hongxiang, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Executive Vice President of the China Law Society, stated that the China-LAC legal professionals exchange represents a crucial measure for advancing bilateral relations under the rule of law. This program will establish a standing platform for exchanges and cooperation among the legal community, assist in resolving cross-border legal practice issues, and address the rule of law needs arising from practical cooperation between China and LAC countries in economy, trade, people-to-people exchanges, and other fields.
CUPL President Ma Huaide, who also serves as Vice President of the China Law Society and Director of the Academic Committee, pointed out in his speech that CUPL will leverage its advantages in legal disciplines and its international platform resources to deliver high-quality instruction and practical guidance for the program participants. The curriculum will cover the core content of China’s legal system, with a particular focus on cutting-edge topics including constitutional implementation and whole-process people’s democracy, the interpretation of the Civil Code of the People’s Republic of China, digital economy governance, international trade and investment law, and the rule of law for sustainable development and intellectual property protection. This arrangement is designed to foster substantive dialogue and mutual learning on legal systems among legal professionals from both sides.
Li Yun, Minister-Counselor of the Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that legal cooperation constitutes a key pillar in China-LAC relations. Theprogram will help develop talent to support rules alignment in areas including investment, trade, and intellectual property rights between China and LAC countries , thereby advancing the China-LAC community with a shared future to a higher level.
Mexican Ambassador to China Jesús Seade spoke highly of the program, describing it as a valuable opportunity for mutual learning between the legal communities of China and LAC countries. Mexico intends to use this opportunity to strengthen practical cooperation with China on rule of law, further enhancing the long-standing, stable mutual trust between both sides.
Paula Cabrera, a participant representative and Advisor to the Chief Justice of Ecuador’s National Court of Justice, shared her expectations for participating in the program. In her speech, she stated that she would conduct in-depth studies on China’s legal system and judicial practices to contribute to Ecuador-China legal cooperation.
The event featured vibrant discussions, and concluded with a group photo of all participants, capturing this historic moment where China-LAC legal communities joined hands to advance the exchange on the rule of law.
Following the opening ceremony, Jing Hanchao and Ma Huaide delivered the first day’s lectures to participants.
Source: Academy for the Foreign-Related Rule of Law / School of American and Comparative Law / China Arbitration Institute | Photo:Yin Jianfeng
