Legal Daily:

Talents are one of the driving forces for the development of various industries. Could you please provide information on the measures the MOJ has taken to strengthen the training of legal professionals specializing in foreign-related matters? Thank you.

Liu Changchun:

Let me respond to your question. The cultivation of legal professionals specializing in foreign-related matters is foundational to the development of foreign-related rule of law. In this regard, our efforts have primarily focused on the following initiatives.

First, based on our responsibilities, we have implemented the "Opinions on Strengthening Legal Education and Legal Theoretical Research in the New Era" issued by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council. This involves enhancing the macro-guidance of the Secretariat of the Office of the Commission for Overall Law-Based Governance of the CPC Central Committee on legal education and the guidance of the State Council's education authorities and judicial administrative departments on legal education in colleges and universities. We have also deployed a series of key tasks in the construction of the law school system, legal education system and legal theory research system. This includes improving the professional setting of foreign-related law disciplines and strengthening the construction of international law disciplines. The Secretariat of the Office of the Commission for Overall Law-Based Governance of the CPC Central Committee has coordinated the implementation of the opinions and worked closely with relevant departments to promote the implementation of the tasks.

Second, we have strengthened the construction of training bases for legal professionals specializing in foreign-related matters. In collaboration with relevant departments, we have identified a number of national-level foreign-related rule of law research bases, and jointly deployed and carried out the construction of innovative bases for collaborative training of legal professionals specializing in foreign-related matters. This initiative is centered around addressing the national strategic needs in foreign-related rule of law, and accelerating the training of legal professionals specializing in this domain.

Third, we have strengthened the development of legal service teams specializing in foreign-related matters. In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, we have implemented two professional master's degree graduate training law programs for foreign-related lawyers and international arbitration at selected universities, recruiting and training 1,157 postgraduates of law for foreign-related lawyers and 427 postgraduates of law in international arbitration. We established a "Belt and Road Initiative" cross-border lawyer talent pool, which included 143 domestic and foreign law firms and 205 domestic and foreign lawyers. Through selection, we have formed a talent list of thousands of foreign-related lawyers across the country covering cross-border investment, international trade, civil and commercial litigation and arbitration, and other fields. We created a high-quality and professional foreign-related arbitration talent team through such methods as establishing an expert committee for foreign-related arbitration talent training and conducting certificate education in foreign-related arbitration projects.

Fourth, we have established a foreign-related legal talent reserve in the judicial administration system. Regular training courses for legal professionals specializing in foreign-related matters in the national judicial administration system are organized to cultivate talents who are familiar with international legal regulations and are adept at handling foreign-related legal affairs. Thank you.

Chen Wenjun: 

Thank you, Ms. He, all the speakers, and friends from the media. That concludes today's briefing. 

Translated and edited by Xu Xiaoxuan, Li Huiru, Wang Qian, Yuan Fang, Zhang Junmian, Wang Yiming, Yan Bin, Zhou Jing, Wang Wei, Liu Jianing, Lin Liyao, Zhang Rui, Yan Xiaoqing, Liu Sitong, Liu Caiyi, He Shan, Wang Ziteng, Qin Qi, Ma Yujia, David Ball, Tom Arnsten, and Jay Birbeck. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.