Chinese insights for African legal eagles

More than 30 legal professionals from nearly 20 African countries started comprehensive Chinese legal courses at Beijing Foreign Studies University on Sept 2.

The studies are aimed at enhancing legal exchanges between China and Africa and providing further legal support.

The African professionals are the first to undergo the one-month training on Chinese legal issues as part of the China-Africa Legal Professionals Exchange Project sponsored by the China Law Society and organized by the university's law school.

The program includes lectures by Chinese legal experts and covers many areas, including the Constitution, labor law, foreign investment legal issues and legal issues covering the establishment of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone.

Participants will visit Chinese legal institutions, including the Supreme People's Procuratorate and Supreme People's Court.

Venrandah Munyoro, who has worked in the legal system in Zimbabwe for 15 years, is excited about the courses. "I'm interested in all perspectives," Munyoro said, adding that as a legal professional in an African country she is eager to learn more about the Chinese legal system.

Munyoro is a senior state counsel in the legislative drafting division of the Attorney General's Office in Zimbabwe.

"As a participant in drafting laws in Zimbabwe, all aspects matter," Munyoro said, adding that the courses will not only provide an opportunity for her to learn more about the Chinese legal system, but also create a platform for communication with her African peers.

Wang Lequan, president of the China Law Society, said it has been preparing the program for three years following instructions from a Sino-African ministers' forum in 2010 that discussed deepening legal communication between the two sides.

It is the first time that China has provided such intensive training for African legal professionals, Wang said.

"With deepening and closer cooperation between China and African countries, the program provides comprehensive legal support and serves as an 'intelligence reservoir' to benefit further cooperation," Wang said.

Gu Zhaomin, director-general of the Overseas Liaison Department at the society, said, "We aim to show the students the latest legal issues in China." The training can help participants to solve problems involving Sino-African legal issues, Gu said.

luowangshu@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily Africa Weekly 09/05/2014 page3)