From September 21 to 30, a delegation led by Ma Huaide, President of China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL), visited Italy, Romania, and France. This visit demonstrated CUPL’s commitment to thoroughly implementing the guiding principles of the National Education Conference on Advancing the Internationalization of Education and actively responding to the strategic directives of the “Outline of the Plan for the Construction of China into an Education Powerhouse (2024–2035)”. During the visit, the delegation focused on key areas including in-depth inter-university collaboration, joint talent cultivation with international organizations, exchanges on innovation in legal practice, and engagement with global alumni network. The delegation held productive meetings with leading universities, prominent international institutions, renowned law firms, and overseas alumni associations across the three countries. Multiple cooperation agreements were signed, laying a solid foundation for CUPL’s efforts to create a new pattern of international education and train professionals in foreign-related legal affairs.
Advancing the Core of Legal Education and Strengthening the Foundation of International Research Collaboration
The delegation visited seven European universities, including Sapienza University of Rome, to access quality higher education resources in Europe and accelerate the progress of the university’s legal disciplines and foreign-related legal talent cultivation. The visit culminated in a consensus on in-depth collaboration and the signing of six agreements covering key areas such as collaborative platform building, advanced talent development, academic exchanges, interdisciplinary research, and dialogue on legal civilizations.
During its stay in Italy, the delegation visited Sapienza University of Rome, Tor Vergata University of Rome, and the University of Bologna. Guided by the trilateral agreement between CUPL, Sapienza University of Rome, and Tor Vergata University of Rome, and operating through the Center for Roman and Italian Law Studies of CUPL, the delegation worked to consolidate institutional research collaboration between Chinese and Italian law schools and to enhance the profile of the international symposium on “Roman Law·Chinese Law and the Codification of Civil Law”. The delegation also held in-depth discussions on enhancing Sino-Italian and China-Europe collaboration in cultivating top-tier legal talent and advancing legal disciplines through the China-EU School of Law. These discussions yielded substantial consensus on multiple fronts.
On 22 September, Ma Huaide, President of CUPL and Giuseppe Ciccarone, Vice Rector of Sapienza University of Rome, signed a cooperation agreement
On 22 September, Ma Huaide and Nathan Levialdi Ghiron, Rector of the University of Rome Tor Vergata, signed a cooperation agreement
On 23 September, Ma Huaide and Raffaella Campaner, Vice Rector of the University of Bologna, exchanged commemorative gifts
While in France, the delegation visited two campuses of Aix-Marseille University, Paris-Panthéon-Assas University and Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University. The discussions focused on key initiatives including the establishment of “China-France Law School”, joint cultivation of Master and PhD students in Comparative Law, and the co-creation of “China-Francophone Law Alliance”. Consensus was also reached on specific collaborative pathways, including the joint development of curricula and cooperative research on frontier legal issues, laying a solid foundation for CUPL to further expand high-quality educational cooperation with France and beyond.
On 26 September, Ma Huaide, Aix-Marseille University President Eric Berton and Vice President Jean-François Marchi, attended the agreement signing ceremony
On 29 September, Ma Huaide and Stéphane Braconnier, President of Paris-Panthéon-Assas University, signed a cooperation agreement
On 29 September, the delegation held talks with Christine Neau-Leduc, President of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University, and other representatives
Partnering with International Organizations to Build Internship Pathways
The delegation paid a visit to the the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Rome, engaging in pragmatic discussions with Wu Guoqi, the Associate Vice-President of IFAD, and representatives including the Director of the People and Culture Division, and senior legal officers from the Office of the General Counsel, in an effort to chart new pathways for global agricultural governance and international talent cultivation.
The two parties reached consensus on four key cooperation areas: expanding internship and practical training platforms, conducting collaborative research on agricultural development questions, introducing expert faculty from international organizations, and co-hosting high-level academic forums. Furthermore, in-depth exchanges were held on challenging legal practice questions such as priority in loan repayment and sanction committee mechanisms, contributing “CUPL’s Wisdom” to addressing legal bottlenecks in global agricultural development. During the visit, the delegation also met with CUPL alumni working at the Fund.
On 22 September, the delegation took a photo with representatives of the IFAD
During its stay in Paris, the delegation paid a special visit to the Permanent Delegation of the People’s Republic of China to UNESCO, meeting with Ambassador Yang Xinyu, Head of the Delegation, and Yu Xiaoping, Counsellor for Education, among other representatives. This engagement was a concerted effort to deepen the alignment between CUPL’s internationalization strategy and China’s broader diplomatic objectives. The two sides held in-depth discussions on the current state of Sino-French higher education exchanges, future cooperation trends, and potential collaboration between CUPL and UNESCO. Ambassador Yang Xinyu commended CUPL’s achievements in cultivating talent in foreign-related legal affairs and suggested strengthening cooperation in areas such as the protection of legal cultural heritage and research on international rules, thereby charting a clear course for the university’s international cooperation efforts.
Empowering Confucius Institute Development and Activating China-Romania Educational Exchange
At the University of Bucharest in Romania, the delegation attended the 13th Council Meeting of the Confucius Institute at the University of Bucharest, which was jointly established by CUPL. The meeting reviewed and approved the Institute’s 2025 work report, 2026 work plan, and annual budget and final accounts. Full discussions were held on advancing the Institute’s development, promoting academic cooperation, and facilitating faculty and student exchanges, resulting in broad consensus.
Ma Huaide spoke highly of the Institute’s groundbreaking achievements in multiple areas. He particularly commended its outstanding contributions to the localization of Chinese teaching materials, the development of a professional faculty pipeline, and the organization of diverse cultural exchange activities between China and Romania. During the visit, Ma Huaide and Marian Preda, Rector of the University of Bucharest, signed an agreement on academic exchange and cooperation between the two universities.
On 25 September, the delegation attended the Council Meeting of the Confucius Institute at the University of Bucharest
Following the meeting, the delegation held separate discussion sessions with the Chinese and Romanian Co-Directors of the Confucius Institute, volunteer teachers, and law students from the university. These sessions served to gain a deep insight into the volunteers’ career aspirations and the students’ interest in overseas study. Furthermore, in-depth discussions were held on pathways for cultivating interdisciplinary talent proficient in both law and Chinese, as well as on strategies for the high-quality development of the Confucius Institute. These exchanges further solidified consensus and provided clear direction for upgrading the Institute and advancing the partnership between the two universities.
On 25 September, the delegation held discussions with teachers and other representatives from the Confucius Institute teachers and other representatives
Expanding Overseas Practice Bases to Strengthen Cultivation of Foreign-Related Legal Talent
During its visit to Bucharest, the delegation visited the Romanian law firm OTD Lawyers & DARO to integrate the legal resources of both countries and meet their growing legal service demands. The two parties agreed to deepen cooperation in legal talent training, signed an agreement to co-establish a China-Romania Legal Talent Training and Overseas Practice Base, and jointly unveiled the base.
The base is CUPL’s first practical training platform co-established with a leading European law firm, representing a significant strategic initiative to strengthen the practical teaching system and develop high-quality foreign-related legal talent. It creates an integrated pathway of “theoretical learning—overseas practice—career employment.” Both parties have committed to leveraging the base as an opportunity to integrate resource advantages and conduct comprehensive, in-depth collaboration in areas including the joint cultivation of foreign-related legal talent, students’ overseas internships and practical training, co-development of core professional courses, and research on legal practice questions.
On 24 September, Ma Huaide and Nicolae Dumitrașcu, Partner of the Romanian law firm OTD & DARO, signed an agreement to jointly establish the China-Romania Legal Talent Training and Overseas Practice Base, and unveiled the base
In addition, the delegation made a special visit to the Bucharest Bar, Romania’s largest legal professional body. The delegation held in-depth discussions with its President, Aurel Ciobanu, focusing on cooperation in establishing a student internship base, promoting regular exchanges between the Chinese and Romanian legal professionals, and facilitating mutual learning in legal practice. These discussions laid a solid foundation for expanding the network of China-Romania cooperation in the legal field.
On 25 September, the delegation took a photo with representatives of the Bucharest Bar, Romania
Hosting China-France Academic Salon to Strengthen Bilateral Exchange and Dialogue on Rule of Law
During its stay in Paris, the delegation jointly held the “China-France Academic Exchange Salon on the Codification of Health Law” with Paris 8 University. The salon is aimed to deepen dialogue and collaboration between the Chinese and French legal communities in the field of health law, and to advance the practical implementation of foreign-related legal talent cultivation and legal service cooperation.
Scholars and experts from Paris 8 University, University Paris Nanterre and CUPL engaged in in-depth discussions on topics including the development trends of health law in China and France, challenges and solutions in the codification, and the regulation of digital healthcare. The salon established a regular academic exchange platform for Chinese and French scholars, effectively unlocking the potential for cooperation in academic research on health law and joint talent cultivation.
On 27 September, the “China-France Academic Exchange Salon on the Codification of Health Law” was held
Uniting Global Alumni Strength to Build a New Pattern of European Alumni Collaboration
On 28 September, the inauguration ceremonies of the CUPL European Alumni Association and CUPL French Alumni Association were held in Paris, marking the establishment of CUPL’s ninth and tenth overseas alumni associations. The gatherings brought together alumni representatives from various European countries including Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Italy, alongside representatives from alumni associations of nine sister universities, including Tsinghua University, Peking University, and Wuhan University. The assembly concluded with the appointment and election of key leadership positions: Liu Ling, a practicing lawyer in Germany was elected President of the European Alumni Association, while Wang Zhizhuang, a staff member of UNESCO, was appointed its Secretary-General ,concurrently serving as President of the French Alumni Association.
At the meeting, Ma Huaide shared three expectations for the European Alumni Association: first, to organize and host diverse alumni events to enhance CUPL’s influence across Europe; second, to leverage the association’s role in communication and service to strengthen the bonds among alumni in Europe; and third, to strengthen ties with the university by providing constructive suggestions for teaching, research, and campus services.
Liu Ling outlined four key directions for the association: first, to build an academic exchange platform by regularly hosting lectures, seminars, and forums; second, to assist alumni career development through mentorship, company visits, and internship referrals; third, to organize cultural and philanthropic activities to enhance alumni cohesion; and fourth, to support the university’s development by providing cutting-edge industry insights and facilitating its reform and international partnership .
On 28 September, the delegation attended the inauguration ceremonies of CUPL European Alumni Association and French Alumni Association in Paris
During its visit to the University of Bologna, the delegation held meeting with CUPL students on exchange programs at the university, gaining detailed insights into their academic progress and life abroad. Students actively shared their perspectives on topics including curriculum design, credit transfer, and cross-cultural adaptation, putting forward constructive suggestions for CUPL’s development.
On 24 September, the delegation posed for a group photo with exchange students at the University of Bologna
The visit to Italy, Romania, and France represents a significant practice by CUPL to actively integrate into the global education network and contribute to national strategies. Building on the outcomes of the visit, the university will further refine cooperation priorities, develop detailed action plans, and ensure the full implementation of all consensuses. These efforts will strengthen the cultivation of high-quality foreign-related legal talent with global competence and demonstrate CUPL’s contribution to building a community with a shared future for mankind.
The delegation included Luo Zhimin, Director of the Academic Affairs Office; Zhao Peng, Dean of the Institute of Rule of Law; Lyu Yong, Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange; and Wang Wei, Vice Dean of the Academy for the Foreign-related Rule of Law.
Related news reports:
CUPL and Romanian Law Firm Establish Joint Practical Training Base for Legal Talent
https://news.cupl.edu.cn/info/1011/43904.htm
13th Board Meeting of the Confucius Institute at the University of Bucharest, Romania Convened CUPL Co-Established Confucius Institute at the University of Bucharest Holds 13th Council Meeting
https://news.cupl.edu.cn/info/1011/43931.htm
Inaugural Ceremony of CUPL European Alumni Association and French Alumni Association Held in Paris
https://news.cupl.edu.cn/info/1011/43925.htm
