Apparently so according to the following press release published in allafrica.com.
Is this a serious attempt to actually place in position real legal strictures between the Chinese and African nations or is it just a ploy to legitimize Chinese state and private business policy in Africa. We know what side of the fence we err on .. what are your thoughts ?
Here’s the press release and link
http://allafrica.com/stories/201409152325.html
PRESS RELEASE
On September 2nd, the First African Legal Training Programme was opened in the Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU), attended by President Wang Lequan of China Law Society, Executive Vice-President Chen Jiping of China Law Society, Vice-President Zhang Mingqi of China Law Society, Deputy Prosecutor-General Li Rulin of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, Minister George N. Manongi of Tanzanian embassy to China, President Peng Long of the BFSU, Director Zhao Daguang of the Administrative Division of the Supreme People’s Court, Vice- President Du Shiping of Beijing Law Society, Mr. Shen Sibao, a renowned Chinese expert on law, president of China International Economic Law Institute, and representative of the teachers, and African students of the training programme.
President Wang Lequan of China Law Society, President Peng Long of the BFSU, Vice-President Du Shiping of Beijing Law Society, Antonio Binza Quilobo, Minister Public Magistrate of the Attorney-General’s Office of Angola and representative of the African host for the fifth China-Africa Legal Forum, Venrandah Munyaro, State Counsel of the Attorney-General’s Office of Zimbabwe and representative of the African host for the fourth China-Africa Legal Forum, delivered remarks. The inauguration ceremony is chaired by Executive Vice-President Chen Jiping of China Law Society.
President Wang Lequan made an address titled “Deepening China-Africa legal exchange and promote comprehensive development of a new type of China-Africa strategic partnership”, pointing out that in the new century, China-Africa relations should also keep pace with the times.
In 2000, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was established, becoming an important platform for China and African countries to carry out collective dialogue. In 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Africa, proposing the development of China-Africa relations with sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith, bringing China-Africa relations to a higher level.
In 2014, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited Africa, putting forward the concept of “four+six+one” framework, to upgradeChina-Africa cooperation. China and Africa will enjoy a more beautiful future and broader prospect of cooperation.
Forum on China-Africa Cooperation – Legal Forum, as animportant part of FOCAC, has been held successfully four times, achieving fruitful results. And the mechanism has been improved with richer content, more pragmatic cooperationand growing influence.
The First African Legal Training Programme is the first training programme China has hosted for professionals of the legal community in Africa, which the Chinese government attaches high importance to. It is the enrichment and extension of FOCAC – Legal Forum, laying the foundation for providing legal guarantee and intellectual support for comprehensive China-Africa cooperation.
It marks a new stage in legal exchange and cooperation between China and Africa, and will leave its footprint in the history of China-Africa relations. President Wang hopes that African students present can become the participants of China-Africa legal exchanges, practitioners of legal diplomacy, promoters of China-Africa new type of strategic partnership, protectors and inheritors of China-Africa traditional friendship.
Wang ended by saying that the Chinese traditional mid-autumn festival is coming, hoping that African students can take the BFSU as their home, enjoying the happiness of the festival with their teachers and having a beautiful memory.
President Peng Long said that the holding of the First African Legal Training Programme in the BFSU by its Law School reflects the trust the leaders of China Law Society have on the BFSU, and the BFSU will work to ensure the success of the training programme.
Vice-President Chen pointed out that the programme has been in the making for three years by the China Law Society. It is the first training programme China organized for African professionals of the legal community. It is a concrete action to implement the Fifth Ministerial Conference of FOCAC – Beijing Action Plan (2013-2015) and FOCAC – Legal Forum Beijing Declaration.
Over 30 students from nearly 20 African countries attended the training programme, who are judges, prosecutors, lawyers and scholars recommended by African legal and law organizations that have close cooperation with the China Law Society, Chinese embassies to African countries, and African embassies in China. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, FOCAC Office have provided guidance and support to the programme.
At the opening ceremony, China Legal Diplomacy Research Center, China-Africa Legal Research Center, China-Africa Legal Training Basis were also inaugurated. Executive Vice-President Chen Jiping of China Law Society serves as honorary chairman of China-Africa Legal Research Center.
Vice-President Zhang Ming serves as chairman of China-Africa Legal Research Center. President Peng Long of the BFSU, Vice-President Du Shiping of Beijing Law Society, Executive Vice-President Wang Liming of Renmin University, President Huang Jin of China University of Political Science and Law, and Director General Gu Zhaomin of the Overseas Liaison Department of China Law Society serve as the deputy chairmen of the Center.
Chinese experts and officials on law including Director General Liu Hehua of the International Cooperation Bureau of the Supreme People’s Court, Director General Lin Songtian of the African Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Shen Sibao of China International Economic Law Institute, President Fu Zitang of Southwest University of Political Science and Law, President Jiayu of Northwest University of Political Science and Law, Partner and Lawyer of King&Wood Law Firm Jiang Junluhave been invited to be the council members. At the inauguration, certificate conferring ceremony was also held.
