Hong Kong Bauhinia Magazine:

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). What measures has the MOJ taken to provide services and support for the BRI, and what achievements have been accomplished? Thanks.

Tian Xin:

Thank you for your questions. We have fulfilled our duties and firmly advanced our work to provide legal guarantees for BRI cooperation, making significant progress. 

First, we have deepened international exchanges and cooperation regarding law-based governance. Under the BRI, we launched a program to foster legal service professionals and strived to establish a comprehensive platform for legal services. These outcomes were included in a list of practical cooperation deliverables formed at the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. We have continued to deepen international exchange and cooperation in the realm of law-based governance by collaborating with organizations such as the U.N. Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. We have signed exchange and cooperation plans, memoranda of understanding, and other bilateral cooperation documents with the justice departments of nearly 30 BRI partner countries, effectively improving mutual trust in the field of justice.

Second, we have ensured that legal services provide as much support as possible. We have encouraged Chinese lawyers to help Chinese enterprises operating overseas strengthen their compliance management, and establish and improve mechanisms for preventing and addressing overseas investment risks, thus providing high-quality and efficient legal services for BRI cooperation. Chinese law firms have established 63 branch offices in 24 BRI partner countries, while law firms from seven BRI partner countries have set up 24 representative agencies in China. A number of international commercial mediation organizations have been established in locations such as Shanghai, Guangdong, and Hainan to serve BRI development. We have strived to create a database of laws and regulations from major countries worldwide. This database includes relevant legal articles from 80 BRI partner countries, enabling law-based governance to support BRI cooperation.

Third, we have encouraged the Belt and Road International Lawyers Association (BRILA) to fully fulfill its roles. Founded by the All China Lawyers' Association, BRILA provides a platform for exchange among lawyers from BRI partner countries. At present, BRILA has more than 2,600 members at home and abroad, spanning 54 countries and regions. With nine special committees and 34 working groups dedicated to specific countries and regions, BRILA has played a positive role in deepening exchange and cooperation among lawyers from BRI partner countries and enhancing the provision of legal services. Thank you.