“The Prevention of Legal Risk and Building of Legal Mechanism for the Construction of the 'Belt and Road' is a large-scale CASS investigation project implemented by CASS Law Institute and CASS Institute of International Law between 2019 and 2022. On May 29-31, 2019, a research team of CASS Law Institute and CASS Institute of International Law headed by Professor Mo Jihong, Director of CASS Institute of International Law, visited Poland to carry out investigations on the foreign investment system in Poland, the relevant EU legal systems and market rules, and the potential legal risks faced by Chinese faced by Chinese enterprises investing or operating in Poland.
During the one and a half day visit, the research team carried out investigations at the Chinese Embassy and Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Poland, the Law School of Warsaw University, a famous law firm in Poland, various projects invested and operated by Chinese companies in Poland, and collected in a comprehensive way the relevant local laws and policies and first-hand materials about local practices, thereby achieving fruitful results in the investigation.
On May 30, 2019, the research team visited the Law School of Warsaw University, and attended the Sino-Polish Forum on “the Business Environment in Poland”, organized by the China-Poland Center for the Studies of Law and Economics. At the forum the participants exchanged views on the Polish laws and regulations on foreign investment and trade and related cases.
On the afternoon of May 30, the research team visited BWHS, a law firm in Warsaw, and exchange opinions with Ms. Patrycja Gorgoń-Wróbel, Ms. Katarzna Milek and other lawyers of the law firm on the legal environment of foreign investment in Poland and the main legal problems encountered by Chinese enterprises investing in Poland. The hosts and guests agreed to establish an Overseas Practice Base of CASS Institute of International Law within the law firm and Professor Mo gave his new book“Ruling the Country by Law in a Comprehensive Way and Constructing the Rule of Law in China” to the law firm as a gift.
Later that day, the research team visited the Warsaw Office of China Council for Promotion of International Trade and Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Warsaw and held a talk with Mr. Guo Peidong, the Secretary General of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Warsaw, on the establishment, functions, and current activities of the Chamber, the potential legal risk faced by Chinese enterprises investing and operating in Poland, and the assessment of legal environment, and the identification and prevention of risks.
Then, research team visited the Chinese Embassy in Poland and held a talk with officials from the Embassy on the history of the establishment of diplomatic relationship, exchange of personnel, and the trade between China and Poland, the main investment projects by Chinese enterprises in Poland, the local legal system and its implementation, and the potential legal risks faced by Chinese enterprises in Poland.
On the evening of May 30, members of the research team went to the streets of Warsaw to carry out random interviews of ordinary Polish citizens to learn about their knowledge of and attitude towards the Belt and Road Strategy, the investment by Chinese enterprises in Poland and the bilateral trade relationship between China and Poland.
On the morning of May 31, the research team visited the Warsaw Branch Office of NUCTEC in Kobylka and held a talk with the General Manager of the Office, Mr. Bian Xiaohao, on the history of NUTECH’s investment, main products, and current business activities in Poland, as well as the relevant local laws and possible legal risks faced by the company in Poland.
On the afternoon of May 31, the research team successfully concluded its investigation tour in East and Central European countries and left Warsaw for Beijing. Members of the research team include Liao Fan, Jiang Xiaohong, Huang Jin and Wang Tianyu.
