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Carry Forward International Rule of Law and Improve Economic and Trade Rules for Securing High-Quality Belt and Road Development

2021-11-12 16:15

On November 12, 2021, the China Forum on International Legal Cooperation (2021), hosted by the China Law Society (CLS), was held in Beijing. Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and head of the CLS Wang Chen attended the forum and delivered a keynote speech. Vice Foreign Minister and Co-chair of the forum's organizing committee Xie Feng attended the opening ceremony of the forum and delivered a speech titled "Carry Forward International Rule of Law and Improve Economic and Trade Rules for Securing High-Quality Belt and Road Development".

Xie Feng said, against the background of the raging and repeated COVID-19 pandemic and the sluggish global economic recovery, the cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative has bucked the trend and made new progress, which cannot be achieved without all parties' abiding by rules and honoring the rule of law. Themed "Innovation and Improvement of International Trade and Investment Rules for the Belt and Road Initiative", the forum relies on international law to ensure high-quality Belt and Road development, which is of practical significance.

International law is the universally recognized code of conduct by the international community, and it is crucial to maintain world peace and boost common development. However, in today's world, international rule of law is still confronted with daunting challenges. Some countries cherry-pick with international law, clamor "rule-based international order", impose their own rules on others, which is nothing but hegemony in essence under the disguise of rules; some countries jeopardize other countries' sovereignty, security and development interests in defiance of the basic principles of international law prescribed by the UN Charter; some countries willfully withdraw from international treaties and organizations, seriously undermine international cooperation and hinder multilateral governance process; some countries abuse the concept of "national security" for protectionism, and willfully impose decoupling, supply disruption and monopolies, which seriously impacts the stability of global supply and industrial chains.

As a responsible major country, China is committed to carrying forward international rule of law, firmly upholding the authority and sanctity of international law and the international order, and opposing actions that undermine the international order and cause confrontation and division under the disguise of so-called "rules". China always observes the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, especially the principles of respect for national sovereignty, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, and peaceful settlement of international disputes, and opposes hegemony and power politics. China firmly upholds the multilateral trading regime with the World Trade Organization (WTO) as the cornerstone, and opposes unilateralism and trade protectionism with the concrete action of wider opening-up. Following the principle of consultation and cooperation for shared benefits, China will actively participate in reforming and developing the global governance system, help shape the international order toward greater justice and equality and advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Xie Feng also put forward three proposals on strengthening legal assurance for Belt and Road cooperation. First, we need to stay committed to openness and inclusiveness. China will work with all other parties to enhance the openness and inclusiveness of mechanisms, ideas, policies and rules, raise the voice of developing countries in the system of international economic and trade rules, and promote the innovation and improvement of international economic and trade rules. Second, we need to be resolute in championing international rule of law. China will work with all other parties to defend international law and basic norms governing international relations, adhere to equal and democratic participation in the making of international rules, strictly observe international law, and practice true multilateralism. Third, we need to keep up with the times. China will work with all other parties to explore and make high-standard digital economic and trade rules, implement green, low-carbon and sustainable development, and advance the reform of the WTO and the international financial and monetary system, continuously injecting new positive energy into international economic and trade rules.

Representatives from 20 countries including China, Russia, and Brazil and relevant international organizations held discussions online and offline. Beijing Declaration of China Forum on International Legal Cooperation (2021) was released at the forum.

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