On November 7, 2013, Professor Mo Jihong, Deputy Director of CASS Law Institute, met with Mr. Bill Paton, Deputy Director General of International Development Law Organization, at CASS Law Institute. Also attending the meeting were Mr. Chen Xinxin, Head of the Department of Mess Media and Information Law of CASS Law Institute, Mr. Xie Zengyi, Head of the Department of Research Administration and Foreign Affairs of CASS Law Institute, and Mr. Xiao Qiushi, a Programs Officer of CASS Law Institute.

The meeting was the first contact between CASS Law Institute and the International Development Law Organization. Professor Mo extended warm welcome to Mr. Paton, who, in return, expressed his sincere thanks to Professor Mo for his warm reception.

During the meeting, Professor Mo gave the gust a brief introduction to the historical developments, academic traditions and basic functions of the CASS Law Institute and CASS Institute of International Law, and the annual international conferences on “the rule of law” held under China Social Sciences Forum. In return, Mr. Paton gave his Chinese hosts a brief introduction of the International Development Law Organization: the organization, which has a history of 30 years, is devoted to the promotion of the legal construction in emerging economies and middle income countries. For this purpose, it provides these countries and regions with policy suggestions on the establishment of a sound judicial system, on raising the judicial credibility and on enhancing the rule-of-law safeguard for sustainable development.

Professor Mo and Mr. Paton explored the direction and methods of the cooperation between their organizations, carried out in-depth exchange of views on the cooperation between the two organizations in the fields of intellectual property law, international trade and investment law, environmental and energy law, and mess media and information law, and reached a preliminary agreement on joint researches and exchange of personnel.