With China’s rapid economic growth and growing presence on the world stage, the knowledge of Chinese legislation has become an essential resource for students. The current legal system of China is the result of the evolution of culture, economy, society, and politics.
Despite the fact that China is a country with a very long history, the modern legal system can only be traced back to the transplantation of western laws. China opened up its economy to market forces only in the late 1970s. When it did so, law and the legal system lost the pariah status they had been given during the Proletarian Cultural Revolution. In the past 40 years, China took the route of a "socialist market economy", to which the rule of law is essential. In order to meet the requirements of the economy, China introduced civil and commercial law from developed countries and established its current legal system.
The seminar introduces China’s legal system and its implications for the European Union and East Asia. It is divided into two main parts. During introductory sessions, the seminar provides a comprehensive and practical overview of the Chinese administrative and political system, with an emphasis on the history and development of the Chinese legal system, e.g. Constitution and Rule of Law. It examines how the administration, legislative and judiciary bodies work, including the promulgation and enforcement of the laws and regulations. Particular attention is given to the judiciary reform process, the digitisation of the legal system, and dispute resolution. During the second part, the seminar promotes discussion and reflection on important legal areas such as: investment (EU-China Investment Agreement); cybersecurity, data protection, e-commerce; intellectual property rights; environment, health and safety law; as well as labour and employment law. It will also look at specific cooperation and frictions with the EU and the main Asian actors at all levels.
This seminar provides an excellent opportunity to present and discuss the main regulatory drivers of current China’s legal system and its impacts on the EU and East Asia. This seminar focuses on these matters from both the theoretical and practical approaches.
- Kursleiter/in: Mireia Aina Paulo Noguera