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Remarks by President Huang Jin at 2018 Colloquium on International Law

更新时间: 2018/07/09 来源: 点击数: 1332

Your Excellency Mrs. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR,

Distinguished Mr. XIE Feng, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong SAR,

Distinguished Judge XUE Hanqin, Vice-president of the International Court of Justice,

Distinguished Mr. Anthony Neoh, Chairman of the Asian Academy of International Law,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

Good morning!

 

Today, with such a beautiful day in summer, we get together here in the charming Hong Kong to hold the 2018 Colloquium on International Law. This is the third Colloquium on International Law jointly held by the Asian Academy of International Law (AAIL) and the Chinese Society of International Law (CSIL). As the President of the CSIL, a co-organizer of this colloquium, I wish to extend my warm welcome to all the guests, experts, scholars and participants present here, and express my deep gratitude to all sectors of the Hong Kong society for your attention, support and assistance to this event.

Well-recognized international law is the common behavior norms of all countries in the world, a common language of the international community, and a value consensus of the global people. International law is a large system. In my view, well-recognized international law consists of those international law principles, rules and regimes based on the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. In a rapidly-changing world, how we understand and treat international law and what role international law shall play are the questions that we shall continuously concern and keep thinking.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up. For China, this is an important historical point. We will summarize the achievements, experiences, lessons and deficiencies of the past 40 years. It can be safely said that, in the past 40 years, China was a learner, follower, and adaptor of the current international law, she was also an observer, practitioner, and beneficiary of the current international law, as well as the keeper, constructor, and contributor of the current international law. Today, China is the second largest economy in the world. This benefits not only from the reform and opening policy and the socialist road with Chinese characteristics, but also from the learning and mastering of international law, as well as the observance and construction of rule of law at the international level.

Nevertheless, we shall also see that, when China skillfully masters the current international law, integrates into the international community, deals with the relations with all Countries, and participates in global governance by following international law, some countries feel uneasy, uncomfortable, and unwell, and from time to time contain and restrain China’s development, and even go against historical tide, withdraw from those well-observed international agreements and universal international organizations, reject multilateral and free trade and investment regimes, and pursue isolationism, unilateralism, and populism. Definitely speaking, this is not good for world peace, international order, human rights protection and common development on the basis of the current international law.

Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, China adheres to well-recognized international law, strictly performs international obligations from international treaties. China expresses her own opinions and positions on many issues of various fields of international law, and accumulates rich experiences. China also participates in the drafting and making of hundreds of multilateral international conventions, becomes original concluding country or participating country of many international conventions, and makes positive contributions to the codification and progressive development of international law. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China adheres to the path of peaceful development, pursues a win-win strategy of opening up, actively maintains world peace, and promotes the building of a new international relationship of mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation, and the construction of a community of shared future for mankind. This indicates that China has confidence, determination and perseverance to pursue, follow and practice international law, and to make new contributions to the creative development of international law.

The Chinese Society of International Law is a national academic group composed of professionals who are teaching, researching and practicing international law in China. Through organizing research, teaching and training, advisory service, academic communication and publication, the CSIL promotes the creation of theories and the dissemination and application of international law in China, trains international law professionals, constructs top international law think tanks, serves the national diplomatic strategy, and promotes world peace, rule of law, human rights protection and prosperous development. The CSIL is very pleased to be a bridge and linkage connecting international law colleagues of all countries with the Chinese academia. In the context of comprehensively and accurately implementing the principle of “One Country, Two Systems”, beginning in 2016, the AAIL and the CSIL jointly held colloquiums on international law annually, focusing on the hot issues and inviting international law colleagues in China and abroad to deeply discuss them and share views with each other, and the resulting achievements and fruits are notable. They have drawn extensive attention and high appreciation in the all sectors of the societies. The theme of this year’s colloquium is “Sustainable Connectivity: Go Green, Deal Clean and Talk Peace”, focusing on the environmental legal problems, compliance of company operation and dispute settlement in the construction of the “Belt and Road” Initiative. This theme is really unique and ingenious. I am confident that, with the joint efforts of the participating colleagues, the colloquium will surely be fruitful and successful.

Finally, may we have a pleasant and happy time together in Hong Kong.

Thank you!