THE FIRST JOINT CONFERENCE OF SINO-AMERICAN LAW SCHOOL DEANS

 

 

On the eve of President Clinton's visit to China , the First Joint Conference of Sino-American Law School Deans on the Future of Legal Education was held at the International Conference Hall of Renmin University Law School Building from June 17th to 19th, 1998. Some 80 participants took part in the Conference. U.S. participants included scholars from 10 leading American law schools, including Yale, Harvard, Stanford, Columbia , Michigan . Chinese participants came from 24 major Chinese law schools, including RUC, Beijng University , China University of Political Science and Law, Wuhan University , Jilin University, Fudan University , Zhongshan University , Southwest University of Political Science and Law, East China University of Political Science and Law, Central and South China University of Political Science and Law, Northwest University of Political Science and Law. Also present were experts from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice and State Council's Legislative Affaires Office. The Conference was presided by Dean Zeng Xianyi, Chairman of National Guidance Commission on Legal Education of law schools under Ministry of Education, and Anthony Kronman, Dean of Yale Law School. Prof. Luo Haocai, Vice Chairman of CPPCC and Vice President of Supreme People's court and other participants had in-depth discussions on Sino-U.S. legal education systems, future developments and cooperation.

After President Jiang Zemin's successful visit to U.S. and the issuing of Sino-U.S. Joint Declaration and on eve of President Clinton's China visit, the Conference was held as the first Sino-U.S. exchange project. It provided for the highest level of bilateral exchange of legal research and education. In his congratulatory letter to the Conference, President Clinton acclaimed it as a significant event in legal cooperation after his meeting with President Jiang. In addition, Xiao Yang, President and Chief Justice of Supreme People' Court, Wei Yu, Vice Minister of Education, met and entertained the Conference participants respectively.

With wide coverage from Chinese and international media, the Conference presented a good image of China's legal education and served as a landmark of the opening up of China's legal education and research to the outside world.

The First Joint Conference of Sino-American Law School Deans is in session at the Law School Building.

Mr. Xiao Yang, President , Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court, and guest professor of the Law School meets all Conference participants at the Taiwan Hall of the Great Hall of the People.

The letter of congratulations written by the US President Bill Clinton

THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 16, 1998

I am pleased to extend warm greetings to the American and Chinese participants at the Beijing conferendce on "The Future of legal Education in the United States and China." This conference is the first event under a new initiative between our two countries to cooperate in the field of law, which President Jiang and I launched at our summit meeting in Washington last October.

Given the inportance of law to both our countries as we approach the 21st century, this initiative is extremely important. It can further advance the rule of law, improve legal institutions, build mutual understanding, and demonstrate to the people of the United States and China the value of cooperation between our two countries. later this month, during my visit to China, I will reaffirm our support for this initiative and highlight the range of worthwhile activities we expect to pursue under it.

It is fitting that this opening event in the U.S. China initiative should focus on legal education, one of the pillars of a strong legal system. It is at law schools that future lawyers are trained and scholars develop new ideas for improving their society's legal system. I congratulate you on your impressive agenda and on the distinguished participants you have gathered, not only to examine issues regarding the future of legal education in our countries, but also to discuss areas for further cooperation and exchanges.

I wish you success over the next three days in your efforts to build stronger bridges and closer ties between our two countries in the years ahead.

Bill Clinton