The Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Summer Program
Xiamen Academy of International Law
On July 8, 2024, the opening ceremony of the 2024 Xiamen Academy of International Law commenced at 8:30 am. A joyful group photo session at Xiamen Millennium Harbourview Hotel marked the occasion with 126 participants and 7 professors. After the photo session followed the opening remarks and welcome speeches.
Dr. Su Yu, Deputy Secretary-General, the Administrative Council of Xiamen Academy of International Law, made the opening remark as he warmly welcomed all the guests.
Prof. ZENG Huaqun, Co-President of Xiamen Academy of International Law then offered the first welcome speech, in which he welcomed all participants and professors who attend this summer program and expressed gratitude for the support from international society. He first highlighted Academy’s endeavor to establish academic relations with international organizations, including the United Nations and the International Court of Justice. Then he explained the missions of Xiamen Academy of International Law, such as to promote international law, foster academic research exchanges and enhance instant international cooperation. Prof. ZENG used three words to summarize the important tradition that we have formed and developed based on excellent Chinese and foreign traditional cultures: international, inclusive and innovative. Finally, he gave three suggestions for the attendant: to concentrate on the course studies, to promote your professional links, to make case studies on China.
The second welcome speaker was Vice Dean of Xiamen University School of Law, Prof. ZHU Xiaoqin. After a warm welcome, she gave an overview of the courses of Law School of Xiamen University and the OECD program as well as international law PhD program. Prof. ZHU encouraged all the participants to actively apply for the School of Law and gave a heartly wish for this Summer Program to be a success.
The moderator Dr. SU Yu then went on to invite distinguished guests to give their speeches. Mr. LI Mingzhe, Deputy Director General, Xiamen Municipal Bureau of Justice, People’s Republic of China, introduced the history of Xiamen Academy of International Law, summarized its important function and highlighted its success. He ended by encouraging all participants to enjoy the life in Xiamen. Next, Prof. KONG Lingjie, Professor of International Law, China Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies, Wuhan University, highly appreciated the function of Xiamen Academy which had provided a comparable platform to students interested in international law to deepen their knowledge in this important field. Prof. ZHANG Hua, Professor of International Law, School of Law, Nanjing University, also gave a heartly wish for this Summer Program to be a great success, and hoped participants make friends on this platform and enjoy the life in Xiamen.
At 9:50 am, Mr. MA Xinmin, Director General, Department of Treaty and Law, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, People’s Republic of China, delivered the opening lecture titled “Debating the International Climate Change Law in Global Judicial Governance”. In this lecture, he addressed some legal issues pertinent to the two advisory opinion proceedings on climate change: advisory opinion proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). Mr. Ma highlighted the fact that China, as the world's second-largest economy and a responsible major developing country, attaches great importance to the issue of climate change and actively participates in these advisory opinion proceedings. Mr. Ma then talked about China’s legal positions and views on climate change elaborated in its written and oral statements for the two proceedings: first, the statements elucidated how China, under the strong guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, fulfills its obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) regime. Additionally, the statements outlined China’s policies, laws, measures, and achievements in addressing climate change; second, regarding the legal nature of the issue, the issue is one of sustainable development; third, in terms of applicable laws, the UNFCCC regime should be central in addressing climate change and its adverse effects; fourth, it is essential to uphold the UNFCCC regime as the primary basis for climate governance; fifth, anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and their adverse effects are sui generis. Mr. Ma emphasized that China has played an indispensable role in helping the international judicial institutions understand the contentions of all Parties in an objective, balanced, and rational manner. Mr. MA then addressed three specific aspects of the ITLOS advisory opinion: whether the full Tribunal has advisory jurisdiction, whether greenhouse gas emissions constitute pollution, and the relationship between the UNCLOS and other relevant rules of international law in addressing the impacts of climate change on the oceans. In the end of the lecture, Mr. MA concluded that the most effective approach to addressing the issues of climate change and its adverse effects is for countries to seek consensus through political and diplomatic negotiations. The UNFCCC regime remains the fundamental legal basis for addressing climate change and its adverse effects. Together, through collective effort and cooperation, we can pave the way towards a sustainable future for generations to come.
At the end of the opening ceremony, Dr. Su Yu made a brief summary and once again expressed his gratitude to the experts, participants and volunteers. The opening ceremony ended in a warm atmosphere.
Reported by Panying
Editer by Xu Haoyu