The Committee on Social and Legal Affairs of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) held a thematic seminar on enhancing legal services for foreign-related affairs to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation on Aug 28. 

Zhou Qiang, vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, addressed the meeting. 

Zhou emphasized that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has developed into the biggest and most wide-ranging global platform for international cooperation, contributing significantly to healthy economic globalization, addressing global development challenges, and improving global governance. He stressed that the rule of law must be prioritized to improve the institutional mechanisms for high-level opening-up and to promote the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. Zhou called for a deeper understanding of the importance of strengthening foreign-related legal services and enhancing the capacity of providing legal services in this area. 

Zhou also highlighted the need to leverage China's strengths in national institutions and state governance systems to reinforce top-level design and coordinated actions. Efforts are needed to improve the diversified dispute resolution mechanism that integrates mediation, arbitration and litigation, to enable China to have a bigger say and presence in international dispute resolution and rule-making, Zhou said. He urged coordinated efforts to strengthen the development of foreign-related legal service institutions and talents, and deepen reciprocal cooperation with countries involved in the BRI in legal services. More publicity campaigns on foreign-related rule of law need to be carried out to enhance the understanding of China's legal system in the international community, protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises and citizens abroad, guide them to comply with local laws and customs, and use legal frameworks to safeguard their legitimate rights and interests, he added. 

Officials from the Supreme People's Court, the Ministry of Justice, and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade provided updates on the current situation. Experts and scholars participated via video link, engaging in discussions with the CPPCC National Committee members. 

Prior to this seminar, Zhou led a team to visit the China Chamber of International Commerce and the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission to better understand the legal service needs of various enterprises involved in international trade and investment and to examine the roles of relevant organizations in resolving international disputes in this regard.