The Opening Ceremony of the 2015 Summer Programme & the10th Anniversary of the Xiamen Academy of International Law was convened on July 13th 2015 at the Science and Art Center of Xiamen University.
The Opening Ceremony was moderated by Prof. Chia-Jui Cheng, Secretary-General of the Curatorium of the Academy. In the first session, three welcome speeches weredelivered. Prof. Zhu Chongshi, President of Xiamen University and the Chairman of the Administrative Council of the Xiamen Academy of International Law, welcomed over 100 participants from home and abroad plus 22 special participants who are senior legal officials from the member states of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO). He expressed his great gratitude towards all the lecturers and supporters of this programme. He also mentioned the function of the Academy to promote academic research and communications. Dr. Zhong Xingguo, Vice President of the Xiamen People’s Political Consultative Conference congratulated the opening of the 10th Summer Programme as well as the 10th anniversary of the Academy. Afterwards, Prof. Cheng Chia-Jui read the speech from H. E. Judge Shi Jiuyong, former President of the International Court of Justice and the incumbent President of the Curatorium of the Academy. Judge Shi recalled the establishment and progress of the Academy, and gave gratitude to the lecturers and participants of the previous summer programmes for their constant endeavor and precious support to the Academy throughout the world. Finally he gave his best wishes to all the participants for a wonderful experience in Xiamen in the coming three weeks, as well as the best wishes for their future life.
In the second session, Prof. Chia-Jui Cheng read several congratulatory letters from Mr. George Korontzis, Director of the Codification Division of the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs; H.E. Mr. Hans-Dietmar Schweisgut, EU Ambassador to China; Prof. Lori Damrosch, President of the American Society of International Law; and Dr. Narinder Singh, Secretary General of the Indian Society of International Law.
In the third session, the invited distinguished guests delivered their enthusiastic congratulatory addresses. The guests included Dr. Xu Hong, Director-General of the Department of Treaty and Law, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China (on behalf of Mr. Liu Zhenmin, Vice-Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China), Mr. Stephen Mathias, Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs of the UN, Dr. Rahmat Mohamad, Secretary-General of the AALCO, and Prof. Wilfrido Villacrota, former ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General. Mr. Stephen Mathias fully confirmed that the Academyhad grown into a recognised learning institution and an important platform for the students and practitioners from many regions in Asia and beyond. He believedthat creation of this academic institution is a milestone in the development of the Chinese school of international law. People are witnessing constantly increasing involvement of China in the formulation and application of international law and significant contributions to the international law theory and practice. It is crucial to fostering closer international relations with participation of such important player on the international field as China. Prof. Wilfrido Villacrota, founding member of the Curatorium of Xiamen Academy, was a witness to the development of the Academy. He said that he brought with him the message of peace, friendship and goodwill from the Philippines.
In addition, representatives from the Chinese Society of International Law, Chinese Society of Private International Law, Chinese Society of International Economic Law, Supreme People’s Court and the High People’s Court of Fujian Province also made speeches.
In the last session, Prof. Zeng Huaqun, Co-president of the Academy presented a work report of the Administrative Council of the Academy. He said that this Summer Programme is a platform for professional and advanced international law teaching, providing more communications among world-renowned professors and excellent participants. He hoped that all the participants could obtain knowledge in class and enjoy their staying in Xiamen.
At the 10th Anniversary of the Summer Programme, the newly created “China - Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO) Exchange and Research Programs on International Law” is implemented based on the Summer Programme of Xiamen Academy. The China-AALCO Programme was first advocated by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in the AALCO annual meeting in April 2015, and then declared by Chinese President Xi Jinping at Asian-African Summit in that same month. The Launch Ceremony of the Programme was held at Xiamen University today.
After a short break, Mr. Stephen Mathias and Prof. Dr. Rahmat Mohamad delivered Opening Lectures titled “The Use of Force: The General Prohibition and its Exceptions in Modern International Law and Practice” and “Progressive Development of International law and the Asian and African’s Contribution”. The two wonderful lectures kicked off the three-week Summer Programme.
More information, please go to http://www.xiamenacademy.org/.
