On the evening of December 10th, Ms. Jiang Hongmei, the Assistant Secretary-General of China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission Silk Road Arbitration Center (“CIETAC Silk Road Center”) , Gaoshan, Director of Legal Affairs Department of China Council For the Promotion of International Trade Xi’an Sub-council  was invited to attend the Special Academic Salon on the 20th Anniversary of China’s Accession to the WTO jointly organized by School of International Law, Northwest University of Politics & Law and International Law Study Centre .

Wang Han, Distinguished Professor of Sanqin Scholars of Shaanxi Province, Dean of the Silk Road Regional Cooperation and Development Law Research Institute  made an introductory speech. Liu Yajun, Dean of International Law School of Northwest University of Politics & Law , Executive Deputy Director of International Law Study Centre , chaired over the Salon.

Professor Wang Han reviewed the remarkable achievements China has made in the field of economy and trade in the past 20 years since its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), and analyzed the significant legal impact of China’s accession to WTO. By using the multilateral rules and mechanisms of WTO, China has ushered in a stable, fair, transparent, open and broad world market, accomplished the systematic opening, transformation of government functions and rule of law transformation, provided trade protection for China to apply WTO rules and mechanisms to safeguard China's economic interests and development, and also ensured the position for China’s participation in global decision-making, policy and systematic transformation. While paying high attention to the value of WTO in its legal meaning, it is also necessary to realize the challenge it confronts with, such as the erosion of national internal economic governing sovereignty by the expansion of WTO rules, the impact of digital trade, the climate agenda, and unilateral measures under public health governance and so on. WTO rules and mechanisms are at a historical juncture of reconstruction. At last, he put forward a prospect for China’s corresponding measures and legal preparations to coordinate the integration of domestic rule of law and foreign-related rule of law.

Ms. Jiang Hongmei said that Professor Wang Han’s vivid explanation and profound insights aroused attendee’s strong interest and prompted everyone’s deep thought. China is promoting the formation of a new pattern of comprehensive opening up. Arbitration, as an internationally accepted way of dispute resolution, is of great significance in the construction of foreign-related rule of law. CIETAC and CIETAC Silk Road Center will take multiple measures to enhance the public credibility of arbitration, tell the Chinese story of arbitration, and contribute to the construction of legalization of business environment of China, help China enhance international discourse power and international influence.

Pan Junwu, Associate Dean of School of International Law of Northwest University of Politics & Law, Lv Jiang, Professor of School of International Law, Deputy President of Silk Road Regional Cooperation and Development Law Research Institute , Wang Zelin, Associate Professor of School of International Law, Deputy President of Silk Road Regional Cooperation and Development Law Research Institute, Liu Xuewen, Associate Professor of School of International Law School, Researcher of International Law Study Center and other speakers also made speeches and discussions on the topics including “The Impact of China’s Accession to WTO on the United States”, “The New Major Power Relationship between China and the United States”, “The WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism”, “The Reform and Development of Trade Remedy Rules”, “The Reform of Global Economic Order and the Construction of a True Multilateralist Governance System”, etc.

The content of this salon was plentiful, with animated discussion atmosphere and integrated theory and practice. The salon achieved positive effect, contributed wisdom and strength to the future development and response of China’s accession to the WTO.