Chongqing- The relationship between China and ASEAN is multi-channel, not one-way, said Professor Chen Yongmei, School of International Law, Southwest University of Political Science and Law at the 3rd China-ASEAN Law Dean's forum December 18.

China-ASEAN cooperation in law schools

"Regarding the multi-channel, it has the China-ASEAN connection between the governments, as well as that between the enterprises," said Professor Chen. "More importantly, This forum embodies the communication and connection of law schools between the two regions."

As part of Chongqing's effort to build universities with internationalized humanistic features, the 3rd China-ASEAN Law Deans' Forum promotes the exchanges and cooperation between law schools of China and ASEAN countries.

This includes facilitating the cooperation in legal research and the cultivation of legal talents between China and ASEAN countries, building a major China-ASEAN platform for mechanism innovation, experience sharing and mutual learning in legal science and legal exchanges and cooperation, and boosting the joint construction of the China-ASEAN community with a shared future and the Belt and Road Initiative.

Professor Chen thinks that this forum plays a significant role in promoting legal practice from legal education.

"Through the China-ASEAN exchanges, we will cultivate a large number of foreign-related legal talents," said Professor Chen. "In this process, it is also helpful to promote our Chongqing enterprises to go out and provide more legal service talents for Chongqing enterprises to go out."

RCEP helps Chongqing enterprises to go out

"In the field of international trade law, whether it is at the multilateral level or the regional level, it is about the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) we are discussing today," said Professor Chen. "In addition to tariff barriers, it is currently more at the level of non-tariff barriers."

The RCEP is a free trade agreement concluded in November between the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations－Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam－and five of its free trade agreement (FTA) partners, namely Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea.

The signing of the RCEP agreement can eliminate non-tariff barriers to a large extent, which promotes the trade between Chongqing and ASEAN countries, and RCEP members, said Professor Chen.

For example, if an RCEP member makes a commitment in a certain area, including a commitment to open investment or trade in services, Chongqing enterprises, including companies in the financial sector, can take advantage of the open commitments made by that RCEP member to engage in the related financial service investment activities.

"On the other hand, Chongqing has also opened its doors," said Professor Chen. "It welcomes all members of RCEP to take advantage of China's commitment to openness to them, inviting them to invest in Chongqing."

Inviting lawyers from RCEP members

In the future, Professor Chen believes that the China-ASEAN Law Dean's Forum can be further strengthened by promoting multi-levels of professional exchanges and communication.

"For example, we can invite the lawyers from China and RCEP members," said Professor Chen. "lawyers can also join our forum to share their practical experience and needs for practical talents."