On the afternoon of April 16, Yu Xuewang, President of the Zhuhai International Arbitration Court (ZHIAC), and Vice President Wu Xueting visited Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai. The delegation engaged in in-depth discussions with BNU faculty regarding deepening institutional cooperation, advancing legal education, and advancing legal practice within the Greater Bay Area. Participating in the meeting were Distinguished Professor Mi Jian, Law School Vice Dean Yuan Zhijie, and Zhang Zongqing, Associate Professor and Deputy Director of the Legal Development Research Center at the Zhuhai Campus.

I. In-Depth Discussions: Aligning Education with Industry Needs

Vice Dean Yuan Zhijie warmly welcomed the ZHIAC delegation and provided an overview of the development of the BNU Law School at Zhuhai, disciplinary strengths, and talent cultivation strategies. He highlighted the school’s unique geographical advantage and its efforts to forge a “Precision Law and Commerce” educational model. Noting ZHIAC’s extensive expertise in cross-border dispute resolution, Vice Dean Yuan emphasized that this practical experience is invaluable for academic research. He expressed a strong desire to establish a robust student internship and training platform with ZHIAC, aiming to advance the cultivation of foreign-related legal professionals and support the rule of law in the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

In response, President Yu Xuewang detailed ZHIAC’s recent growth, institutional functions, and international orientation. He praised BNU as a vital hub for legal education, noting that its focus on versatile, practice-ready talent perfectly aligns with ZHIAC’s mission to optimize the GBA’s business environment. President Yu also highlighted ZHIAC’s active contributions to the Bay Area Communication journal published by BNU’s Legal Development Research Center, reflecting a solid existing foundation for collaboration. Looking ahead, he proposed expanding cooperation to include joint internship bases, collaborative research on arbitration theory, and expert resource sharing.

Distinguished Professor Mi Jian called for joint research on critical issues such as mechanism alignment, the integration of legal cultures across Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, and support for foreign economic openness. He stressed the importance of grounding these efforts in the GBA context through regular academic forums and professional training, thereby bridging the gap between legal theory and practice.

Vice President Wu Xueting reflected on the long-standing friendly ties between the two institutions. Expressing optimism about deepened collaboration, she noted that ZHIAC’s recent innovations could inject “Bay Area strength” into the internationalization of Chinese arbitration. She also shared insights from her experience teaching Commercial Arbitration Law, noting students’ strong engagement and expressing hope for even broader practical opportunities for them in the future.

II. Mutual Empowerment: Exploring Collaborative Pathways

The meeting yielded several concrete initiatives. First, ZHIAC will offer internship placements and allow students to observe live arbitration proceedings. Second, the two sides will co-organize brand events such as “Simulated International Arbitration” and “Arbitration Practice Lectures” to strengthen students’ practical skills. Third, they will promote academic resource sharing and collaborate on research projects focused on the rule of law in the GBA.

III. A Shared Vision: Serving the Rule of Law in the Bay Area

This seminar has given fresh impetus into the BNU Zhuhai Law School’s expansion of practical teaching resources and optimization of its disciplinary layout. Moving forward, both parties will fully leverage their respective strengths in talent cultivation, think tank development, and international arbitration research, contributing jointly to a more law-governed and internationalized business environment in the Greater Bay Area.

The event concluded with a mutual exchange of souvenirs and a group photo, marking a successful and fruitful exchange.

Participants in the seminar included Hai Yu, Deputy Director of the Case Review Department of the Zhuhai International Arbitration Court; Zhuo Jing, Deputy Director of the International Business Department and Secretary-General of the Hengqin International Commercial Mediation Center; Yin Shuyu, Editor of 'Bay Area Communications' at the Law Development Research Center of BNU Zhuhai; and Yang Zhuoying, Director of the Office of the Law Development Research Center of BNU Zhuhai.

Typesetting: Xu Yiyang

Editor: Shi Tianyu