China-EU School of Law celebrates 10th Anniversary

21 November 2018

Photo: UHH/Jura

China-EU School of Law celebrates 10th Anniversary

Nicolas Chapuis, EU Ambassador to Beijing, highlighted the importance of the China-EU School of Law as part of the China-EU School of Law's 10th anniversary celebrations on 15 November 2018 in Beijing. The figure of 1.6 billion Euro daily trades illustrates the significance of the European-Chinese exchange. Europe is China's largest foreign trade partner and China ranks second to the US in Europe. Law is the basis of this exchange and the China-EU School of Law is the flagship of European-Chinese cooperation. CESL was inaugurated on 23 October 2008 by José Manuel Barroso, at that time EU Commission President, and Li Keqiang, at that time Deputy Prime Minister of the People's Republic of China. And this year, alongside 40 years of reform and opening-up of policy of the PRC, the 10 year anniversary of European-Chinese legal exchange can be celebrated. Both are occasions to celebrate, but above all signify a beginning of ‘more’.

Huang Jin, President of the China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL), which hosts the China-EU School of Law, highlighted the accomplishments that have already been made: 700 graduates of Master's programmes, training of 9,000 judges, prosecutors and lawyers, cooperation of 150 scientists in 35 research projects and the organisation of 50 conferences. And these are just the hard facts. CESL has created a "centre of excellence" that attracts the best talent from China and Europe. Zhang Fusen, Chinese Co-Chair of the Joint Managerial Committee and former Attorney General, praised the achievements made in the first 10 years and looked forward to the next 10 years. Danièle Alexandre, University of Strasbourg, remarked how important it is for European lawyers to acquire knowledge and experience regarding Chinese affairs. Ma Huaide, Vice President of CUPL, pointed at the increasing internationalisation of legal education in China. Hinrich Julius, University of Hamburg and European Co-Chair of the Joint Managerial Committee, underlined the uniqueness of CESL as a true form of European education in China.

Former students reviewed their time at CESL; “hard work and the commitment required to succeed in the programme did prepare us for the long working hours in the office. We also learned how to correctly cite, what revealed to be very helpful in my job as a lawyer,” is how Mao Wenfei, a 2013 graduate, summarised her time at CESL. Peter Leibküchler, a 2010 graduate, praised the high level of teaching and remembered fondly the time spent studying together. Those were the times, when you found friends for life, he remarked.

A 10 year anniversary is a good occasion to look back to the past in order to learn for the future. The 16 partner universities from China and Europe, whose consortium is coordinated by the University of Hamburg, look to the future with confidence. In view of the growing interest of students, the existing programmes will be further expanded. An additional Master programme for European students on Chinese law will be set up in 2019. 10 years of successful cooperation form the basis for further growth of CESL.