The BRICS Forum on the International Rule of Law was successfully held in Beijing on 7-8 September 2019. The forum was sponsored by Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, organized by CASS Institute of International Law, and co-organized by the Center for Publicity and Education of the Rule of Law and Public Law Studies, CASS Institute of Law, Legal Application Bureau, China Democracy and Law Press
Social Sciences Academic Press (China) and Beijing Yingke Law Firm. It was attended by over 60 experts and scholars from relevant government organs, universities, research organizations, publishing houses, and law firms in China, India, Portugal, Russia, South Africa and Brazil.
At the opening ceremony, presided over by Professor Mo Jihong, Director of CASS Institute of International Law, Prof. Lu Zhongmei, Vice Chairperson in Residence of the Committee of Law and Society of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Consultative Conference, Vice President of the China Law Society, Professor at the Law School of Tsinghua University, Prof. Chen Guoping, Secretary of the Joint Party Committee of the Institute of Law and the Institute of International Law, CASS, and Ms. Yang Lin, Global Partner of the Beijing Yingke Law Firm, each gave an opening speech.
Following the opening ceremony, keynote speeches were given by some participants: Prof. Lu Zhongmei, gave a speech entitled China’s Environmental Rule of Law over the Past 70 Years: History and Future; Mr. Shyam Divan, Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of India, gave a speech on Environmental Rule of Law and Prof. Pedro Trovão do Rosário, Dean of the Law Faculty of the Autonomous University of Lisbon, gave a speech entitled BRICS, Portugal and the Silk Road.
The forum was divided into five sessions, at which the participants gave presentations and carried out discussions on various issues around the following topics: BRICS and the International Legal Order; Mechanisms for Legal Cooperation among BRICS Countries; Law Enforcement Mechanisms in BRICS Countries; Legal System of Taxation and Investment in BRICS Countries; and Resolution of Commercial Disputes in BRICS Countries.
During the forum, a ceremony was held for the launch of the new book“The BRICS-Lawyers’ Guide to BRICS Texts and Materials”. At the ceremony, presided over by Professor Mo Jihong, a presentation of the book was given by Prof. Rostam Neuwirth & Prof. Alexandr Svetlicinii, the two authors of the book and Prof. LI Qingming, Deputy Head of the Private International Law Department of CASS Institute of International Law, made some comments on the basic content and main contributions of the book and the reflections triggered by the book.
At the closing ceremony, presided over by Prof. Liao Fan, Head of the Office for International Cooperation of CASS Institute of International Law, closing remarks were given by Prof. Sergei Belov, Dean of the Law Faculty of St. Petersburg State University, Prof. Song Xiaoyan, Dean of the Law School of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, and Prof. Mo Jihong, Director of CASS Institute of International Law.
