The visit in the Xiamen Maritime Silk Road Central Legal District
Recently, a delegation of 30 participants from the 17th Summer Programme of Xiamen Academy of International Law visited the Xiamen Area of the Maritime Silk Road Central Legal District. The purpose was to experience the high-quality development practices within this legal district.
Before beginning the tour, the participants watched a promotional video about the Maritime Silk Road Central Legal District. The video provided an overview of the district’s vision, its role in the international legal landscape, and the various services it offers.
The first stop was the Public Legal Service Center. This center provides comprehensive legal services to the public, including legal consultations, legal aid, and mediation services. Its goal is to enhance the accessibility of legal resources, ensuring that citizens receive timely and effective legal support. Additionally, the center plays a crucial role in promoting legal awareness and education among the public.
Next, the participants visited the Xiamen Foreign-related Maritime Court. The court explores the establishment of a "one-stop" trial model for civil, administrative, and criminal maritime cases. It promotes the creation of an international maritime and commercial dispute mediation center along the Maritime Silk Road, enhancing specialized judicial services for foreign-related maritime and commercial disputes. This aims to build a first-class market-oriented, rule-of-law, and international business environment in Xiamen and Fujian.
The participants then proceeded to the Xiamen International Commercial Court. Judge from the Xiamen International Commercial Court introduced to the participants the court's functions and services.
Finally, the participants explored the Legal Technology Exhibition Hall of the Maritime Silk Road Central Legal District. This exhibition hall showcases the integration of advanced technology in public security and legal services. Visitors can learn about the latest developments in legal technology, such as AI-based legal research tools, digital case management systems, and smart courtrooms. Notable technologies include automated contract analysis software and blockchain-based evidence preservation systems. These innovations are revolutionizing legal processes, making them more efficient and secure. The exhibition also highlights the district’s efforts in maintaining public safety and enhancing the efficiency of legal processes.
The visit ended with and was best summarized by the comments of Prof. Zeng Huaqun, Co-Director of the Xiamen Institute for Advanced Studies of International Law and President of the China Society of International Economic Law:
“As an important window for Xiamen's foreign exchange, the Xiamen Academy of International Law attracts students from all continents for study and exchange each year. These students have a strong interest in China’s rule of law development, and the construction of the Maritime Silk Road Central Legal District provides an intuitive and vivid example. The active role of the Fujian Center for Taiwan-related Maritime Disputes Resolution and the Jingu Extraterritorial Law Identification Center in providing legal support for enterprises' overseas business, as well as their ability to resolve business disputes efficiently through mediation, arbitration, and non-litigation methods, left a deep impression on the students.”
On July 17, 2024, participants of the 17th Summer Programme of the Xiamen Academy of International Law paid an in-depth visit to the Xiamen Maritime Silk Road Central Legal District. As a key platform of the Maritime Silk Road Central Legal District and the Pilot Free Trade Zone, this district has demonstrated a unique development concept of "integrating business and law, promoting business with law, and enhancing law through business." It has gradually become a crucial hub for the convergence of international business law along the Belt and Road Initiative.
Accompanied by the relevant department staff of Xiamen Maritime Silk Road Legal Affairs Office, the participants mainly visited the Maritime Silk Road International Commercial Law Integration Service Base, Yingke Maritime Silk Road International Legal Service Center，The Trial Center of the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (ClETAC) Maritime Silk Road Arbitration Center (Xiamen)，the Trial Center of the Arbitration Center across the Straits (Xiamen), and International Commercial Dispute Prevention and Settlement Organization (lCDPASO). During the visit, the participants highly appreciated the efficient operation and professional services of the Legal Affairs District.
At the end of the visit, the participants attended an academic salon in the Maritime Silk Road Central Legal District. During the meeting, attendees gathered to discuss cutting-edge issues in the legal field. Lawyer Liang Jie, leveraging her profound professional background and rich practical experience, provided a concise and thorough explanation of the copyright protection of images generated by artificial intelligence. Subsequently, Lawyer Zhang Chenrong, with her unique academic perspective and forward-looking strategic thinking, delivered an insightful presentation on the transformation of legal services in the era of artificial intelligence. She analyzed the impact of AI technology on the legal services industry, offering participants a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of this topic. The presentations by the two lawyers not only broadened the participants' academic horizons but also stimulated their enthusiasm for in-depth thinking about these issues.
The visit and academic salon enabled the participants to understand the important role of the Maritime Silk Road Central Legal District in integrating international commercial law along the Belt and Road. It also provided them with a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the cutting-edge issues in the field of law.
