The International Symposium on the EU Trade and Economic Law Transformation and Its Impact on China-EU Relations, hosted by the College and co-organised by the Centre for China-Europe/EU Law Studies of CUPL and the Institute of European Law of the College, was successfully held on 20 Sept in Beijing.  

The symposium brought together six European scholars from Humboldt University of Berlin, University of Osnabrück, Radboud University Nijmegen, University of Graz and Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. They were joined by over 60 Chinese experts and scholars from academia and practice, representing institutions such as the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Tsinghua University, Renmin University of China, China University of Political Science and Law, Beijing Normal University, Beihang University, Central University of Finance and Economics, University of International Relations, China Institute of International Studies, Capital University of Economics and Business, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, Nankai University, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Southwest University of Political Science and Law, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics and East China University of Science and Technology, as well as from practice areas including the Beijing Office of King & Wood Mallesons and the Li Auto. Nearly 20 master's and doctoral students also participated in the event. The conference received support from the College of Comparative Law, EU Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence Programme (Project 101176899-EULSCGT) and CUPL’s Emerging Disciplines Development Project.

The opening ceremony was chaired by Prof. Zhang Tong, Director of the Centre for China-Europe/EU Law Studies at CUPL & Jean Monnet Chair Professor & professor at the College. Prof. Liu Yanhong, Vice President of CUPL, delivered the opening address. She congratulated the organisers on the successful convening of the symposium and noted that regional and country-specific law is an emerging, distinctive and advantageous discipline at CUPL, which is crucial for fostering the university's international development. She highlighted that this forum coincides with the historic 50th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between China and the EU. The past half-century has demonstrated that dialogue and cooperation remain the mainstream of relations between these two major global forces. Against the backdrop of a changing geopolitical landscape and challenges to the reshaping of the international trade order, this symposium is particularly timely, holding significant academic value and practical relevance. Associate Dean of the College Prof. Xie Libin also delivered remarks. He stated that the conference’s agenda is rich, comprehensive, forward-looking and high-level, representing strong support for the development of the Regional and Country-specific Law discipline at the College.

The symposium was divided into morning and afternoon sessions, featuring presentations from 23 speakers and commentary from 11 discussants across the three themes.