Chongqing - China is strengthening its legal framework for global cooperation. On September 19, Southwest University of Political Science and Law (SWUPL) unveiled the Institute of Foreign-Related Rule of Law and the School of Foreign-Related Rule of Law, alongside the 2026 Symposium on “Building China’s Foreign-Related Rule of Law System.”

On September 19, Southwest University of Political Science and Law (SWUPL) unveiled the Institute of Foreign-Related Rule of Law and the School of Foreign-Related Rule of Law. (Photo/ SWUPL)

Jiang Tianbo, executive deputy secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee, and Tang Qingyang, secretary of the CPC Committee of SWUPL, jointly unveiled the two institutions. Representatives from government departments, judicial authorities, academic organizations, universities, research institutions, international organizations and enterprises attended the event.

At the opening ceremony, Lin Wei, deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of SWUPL and president of SWUPL, said the Institute will focus on major issues, including foreign-related legislation, the development of a system for the extraterritorial application of Chinese law, international commercial dispute resolution mechanisms, overseas interest protection, and maritime-related legal studies.

He said the Institute will enhance joint research and develop a new talent training model combining law, foreign languages, regional and country studies, and practical skills. The goal is to cultivate professionals with a strong understanding of international treaties and the ability to handle cross-border legal matters.

Chen Danhong, director-general of the Department of International Cooperation (Department of Ocean Rights and Interests) of the Ministry of Natural Resources, noted that foreign-related rule of law faces new challenges in areas such as marine governance, deep-sea resource development and polar affairs. She expressed the hope that the Institute would focus on practical issues arising in international negotiations and cultivate professionals with the ability to participate in global rule-making.

Jiang said Chongqing, located at the intersection of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Yangtze River Economic Belt, serves as the logistics and operation hub for the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor designated by the state.

In recent years, Chongqing has accelerated efforts to improve its foreign-related rule of law system, developed professional platforms such as the Chongqing International Commercial Arbitration Center, and provided local experience for the implementation of international conventions. Through international rule of law exchange activities such as the China-ASEAN Legal Cooperation Forum, Chongqing has accumulated practical experience for advancing foreign-related rule of law research.

Jiang said Chongqing's legal and judicial institutions will strengthen cooperation with SWUPL in areas including major research projects, sharing of typical cases, practice base development and talent exchanges, contributing local expertise to higher-level foreign-related rule of law development.

Li Ming, executive vice president of the Chinese Society of International Law, said building a foreign-related rule of law system is an important topic in contemporary legal research. The society will deepen cooperation with SWUPL to promote innovation in both theory and practice.

Jia Shen, the Secretary-General of the International Commercial Dispute Prevention and Settlement Organization (ICDPASO), said foreign-related rule of law development is shifting from "post-hoc resolution" toward "ex ante prevention." He introduced the organization's work in dispute prevention and commercial mediation and invited SWUPL to jointly develop practical platforms and cultivate high-level professionals.

The event also unveiled a series of SWUPL achievements in foreign-related rule of law development, including the "Report on the Reform of SWUPL's Foreign-Related Rule of Law Talent Cultivation Model," the SWUPL Foreign-Related Rule of Law Textbook Series, and the "Report on the Construction and Development of China's Foreign-Related Legal Service Clusters."