May 19, 2011

 

From April 4 to 16, 2011, China Law Society Delegation, headed by Mr. Gu Zhaomin, Director-General of Overseas Liaison Department of China Law Society, visited Senegal, Kenya, Mozambique and Namibia at the invitation of the Supreme Court of Senegal, the Attorney General's Office of Kenya, Ministry of Justice of Mozambique and Faculty of Law of University of Namibia.

 

The legal organizations of the four countries attached great importance to this visit. In Senegal, the delegation met with Mr. Papa Oumar Sakho, President of the Supreme Court, Mr. Cheikh Tidiane Sy, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Mr. Abdoulaye Ndiaye, Attorney General and Mr. Demba Kandji, President of the Court of Appeal of Dakar. In Kenya, the delegation met with Ms. Muthoni Kimani, Senior Deputy Solicitor General of Kenya and Mr. Kenneth W. Akide, Chairman of Law Society of Kenya and other legal professionals. In Mozambique, the delegation met with Mr. Ozias Pondja, President of the Supreme Court, Mr. Adelino Muchanga, Vice-President of the Supreme Court, Mr. Edmundo Alberto, Vice-Attorney General and Mr. Alberto Nkutumula, Vice-Minister of Justice. In Namibia, the delegation met with Ms. Retha Steinmann, Director of Law Society of Namibia, Professor Johannes Horn and other professors of Faculty of Law of University of Namibia. The delegation and the mentioned legal professionals of the four African countries discussed about and reached consensus on matters of strengthening the legal exchange and cooperation, holding the third FOCAC-Legal Forum, establishing the Steering Committee of the Forum and Resolution Dispute Mechanisms with China-Africa characteristics. The visit achieved complete success.

 

All sides have believed that similar historical experiences and common tasks of development connect China and Africa closely. China and Africa are natural allies. All sides hope to strengthen the legal exchange to promote China-Africa economic and trade cooperation and push forward the development of state relationship.

 

All sides have thought that the FOCAC-Legal Forum is an effective and long-term platform for the exchange and cooperation between Chinese and African legal circles and provided new contents and vitality to FOCAC. Chinese and African legal circles should and could play a greater role in promoting China-Africa relationship. All sides have agree tolook forfinancial resources and overcome difficulties so as to attend the third Legal Forum in Kenya to introduce their own legal system to and share experiences with legal professionals from China and other African countries.

 

After referring to the working schedule of the Kenyan side, the third FOCAC-Legal Forum is intended to be held from November 13 (Sunday) to 16 (Wednesday), 2011 in Nairobi, Kenya. The proposed theme of the Forum is "Deepening China-Africa Legal Cooperation and Pushing Forward the Development of New China-Africa Strategic Partnership Vigorously at the New Starting Point" and the topics might include as follows:

 

The International Law, regarding "Peaceful Coexistence" to "Cooperation for Mutual Development", and China-Africa Cooperation in the New Stage;

The Legal Environment for Investment in Africa;

and the Dispute Resolution Mechanisms with China-Africa Characteristics.

 

The delegation also discussed with the Kenyan side about several matters of the third Legal Forum, such as the venue, conference activities, coverage of expenses and liaison and coordination mechanism, which is open to the final decision.

 

All sides have agreed there exists a solid foundation for friendly relations between Chinese and African people. China-African friendship and brotherhood are deeply rooted in the mind of people from both sides. With the expansion of China-Africa economic exchanges and cooperation and emerging of the frictions in China-Africa economy and trade, we should establish a dispute resolution mechanism with China-Africa characteristics which will conform to the development stage of both sides, reflect China-Africa traditional friendship, and meet the practical needs of both sides, so as to promote the independence of developing countries in the world economic system and ultimately push forward the formation of a more just and reasonable New International Political and Economic Order.

 

All sides have believed that the FOCAC-Legal Forum has its own development issues. In order to continuously push forward the bilateral or multilateral practical cooperation, to make the Legal Forum a think-tank for pushing forward the China-Africa partnership in an all-round, continuous and rapid way and to guarantee and guide the overall development of the New Type of China-Africa Strategic Partnership, China and Africa could together establish the steering committee of the Legal Forum, so as to promote construction as well as perfect the operation mechanism of the Forum, and to plan, coordinate and guide all kinds of activities in the framework of the Legal Forum.

 

All sides have believed that with the development of economic globalization and the increase of personnel flows, legal exchange and cooperation is playing a more and more important role in guiding, safeguarding and regulating national relations. Legal scholars and practitioners shall, hand in hand, take the historical responsibility and face the challenges, jointly push forward the "Legal Diplomacy", resolve disputes through legal ways, and achieve peace and common development.

 

The delegation also visited the related Chinese embassies, introduced the preparation work of the Forum and asked for their continuous support and assistance for the third FOCAC- Legal Forum as well as China-Africa legal exchange.