In Brief

Image: Circe Denyer, Cargo Ship On A River Passageway (Publicdomainpictures.net)

In his speech delivered at the recent Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, Chinese President XI Jinping emphasized the need to “keep in mind the people’s expectations”. He also announced eight actions that China will take to support the “high-quality” development of the Belt and Road Initiative (“BRI”). What expectations do people in BRI partner countries have for the initiative? Do the eight actions announced by China have the potential to align well with these expectations?Read more

In Brief

Image: Kai Stachowiak, Background Wallpaper (Publicdomainpictures.net)

The global legal services market has been predicted to grow to USD 1,311.63 billion by 2031, with the fastest-growing regions being South America, the Middle East, Africa, and Eastern Europe and it is estimated that their compound annual growth rates will range from 11.1% to 8.9%. What are the implications of these predictions for lawyers and rule-of-law developments in China?Read more

In Brief

Images: Peter Griffin, Bullet Train;
Victoria Borodinova, Bedouin, Desert, Caravan, Camels (Publicdomainpictures.net)

Long before the emergence of AI chatbots, China had already prioritized the development of AI, resulting in the promulgation of pioneering legislation to boost foreign investment. Applying similar long-term planning skills, China began years ago to revive the glory of Xi’an, the eastern terminus of the ancient Silk Road, by enhancing the city’s capacity to resolve legal disputes arising from China’s current Belt and Road Initiative. Xi’an’s recent hosting of the China–Central Asia Summit has signaled the city’s potential to facilitate again the economic development in this region. These achievements are quite remarkable. How did China get here and where will this likely lead to? Read more

In Brief

Images: icon0 com, China Flag Themes Idea;
Victoria Borodinova, Brazil Flag, Brazil, Friendship (Publicdomainpictures.net)

In their recent joint statement on climate change, China and Brazil stress the need to combine “urgent climate responses” with the protection of nature to, among other goals, eradicate hunger. Accomplishing these goals will not be easy because some are conflicting. High-yielding seeds needing little agricultural inputs to grow seem to be the panacea required. Are legal tools available to help incentivize the development of such seeds?Read more

In Brief

Image: Kieran Sinclair, Great Wall Of China 1 (Publicdomainpictures.net)

Since being confirmed as President of the People’s Republic of China for an unprecedented third term, XI Jinping has quickly produced a series of high-profile diplomatic achievements, including the recent normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran mediated by China. What legacy will this early success lead to?Read more

SinoForum&Foresight

Image: Ron Mzr, Haifa (Publicdomainpictures.net)

China and Israel have reportedly accelerated negotiations on their long-anticipated free trade agreement (“FTA”), raising hopes that the FTA may come to fruition by the end of 2022 to mark the 30th anniversary of the two countries’ relations. What lessons can be learned from the decade-long activity of Chinese multinational corporations specializing in infrastructure projects in the Israeli market?Read more

In Brief

Image: elwynn (Shutterstock.com)

Since late 2021, China has been pushing the development of the Metaverse and expressing its keen interest in joining the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement, which was signed by Chile, New Zealand, and Singapore in June 2020. These efforts and their latest developments, together with President XI Jinping’s current visit to Central Asia, help show China’s strategic preparations for the future.Read more

In Brief

Images: Denise Lett;
Africa Studio;
MattiaATH (Shutterstock.com)

In early 2022 (a special year that marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of China–South Korea diplomatic relations), China released a Typical Case to highlight the country’s recognition and enforcement of a South Korean judgment. Why now? What messages does this send to courts inside and outside China?Read more

In Brief

Images: gnomeandi;
Peter Gudella (Shutterstock.com)

The worsening food crisis around the world has made the China–Laos Railway, which opened in December 2021, even more important to China. Has China taken steps to help Laos so that the latter can manage related legal risks better? From China’s perspective, helping Laos maximize its benefits from this USD 6 billion railway project while minimizing the risks involved will strengthen the two countries’ relations and bode well for China’s presence in that region.Read more

In Brief

Image: robbin lee (Shutterstock.com)

The Ukraine crisis is a major blow to a world that has already been hit hard by the pandemic and economic setbacks. Businesses struggling to stay afloat should ask: where are the much-needed opportunities amid the current global crises?Read more

Guiding Case 109

Image: Kevin Casper, San Jose Costa Rica (Publicdomainpictures.net)

In February 2019, the Supreme People’s Court of China released Guiding Case No. 109 and five other Guiding Cases to illustrate how Chinese courts handled issues related to the country’s Belt and Road Initiative.  Guiding Case No. 109 specifically shows the Supreme People’s Court’s firm adherence to legal rules and principles that protect the value of the “payment on demand” system of independent guarantees.Read more