On June 9, 2022, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Shenzhen University co-hosted a seminar entitled "The Rule of Law Involving Foreign Parties from the Perspective of 'One Country, Two Systems': Opportunities and Prospects - Seminar on Legal Affairs Involving Foreign Parties in Commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of Hong Kong's Return to the Motherland" in Beijing and Shenzhen both online and offline. Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Carrie Lam, and President of Shenzhen University Mao Junfa attended and addressed the opening ceremony.

Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng pointed out, since Hong Kong's return to the motherland 25 years ago, the central government has promoted the formation of good governance that is on the basis of the Constitution and the Basic Law and truly in line with "One Country, Two Systems", thus providing a solid institutional guarantee for Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability, as well as the steady and sustained implementation of "One Country, Two Systems". Practice has proved that the principle of "One Country, Two Systems" is fully applicable, achievable and popular!

Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng said, under the new circumstances, we should make greater contributions to the development of the rule of law in matters involving foreign parties under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and General Secretary Xi Jinping's important observations on the work involving Hong Kong and Macao. First, make good use of the competitiveness of the rule of law in Hong Kong. Continued efforts should be made to attract international legal organizations to set up branches and hold legal conferences in Hong Kong, ensure the sound operation of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO) Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre and other institutions, and earnestly build Hong Kong into a legal service center in the Asia-Pacific region. Second, fully leverage the strengths of the rule of law in a well-coordinated manner. We should continue to keep in mind the functions of Hong Kong in the 14th Five-Year Plan, more actively integrate Hong Kong into the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, make good use of Hong Kong's legal expertise to serve the overall interests and major strategies of the motherland, and promote the development of the rule of law in matters involving foreign parties in the new era in a well-coordinated manner. Third, demonstrate the influence of the rule of law. We should help boost global governance, and contribute Hong Kong's wisdom to providing China's solutions and to applying, leading and shaping international rules. Efforts should be made to coordinate with national diplomacy, advocate and act on true multilateralism, and make continued efforts to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam said, the rule of law is fundamental to Hong Kong. The Constitution and the Basic Law are the cornerstones of prosperity and stability in Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong National Security Law and the improvement of the electoral system ensure the steady and sustained development of "One Country, Two Systems". The rule of law is Hong Kong's strength. With a sound legal foundation and a large pool of talents, Hong Kong can help the motherland improve the rule of law in matters involving foreign parties. The rule of law is a driving force for Hong Kong's development. With the full support of the central government, Hong Kong successfully held the annual session of the AALCO last year and established the AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Center. In the future, the SAR government will continue to firmly adhere to the principle of "One Country, Two Systems" and further integrate Hong Kong into the overall development of the motherland to embrace an even brighter future.

President Mao Junfa said, the seminar will surely promote the dialogue, exchanges, cooperation and learning among legal theorists and practitioners in the Chinese mainland and the Hong Kong and Macao SARs, and advance the better implementation of the "One Country, Two Systems" and the Basic Law in the field of Hong Kong-related diplomatic rules and laws.

At the meeting, Director-General of the Department of Treaty and Law of the Foreign Ministry Jia Guide, Secretary for Justice of the Hong Kong SAR Cheng Yeuk-wah, and Secretary for Administration and Justice of the Macao SAR Cheong Weng Chon respectively made keynote reports on diplomatic rules and laws related to Hong Kong and relevant practices of the Hong Kong and Macao SARs.

More than 130 representatives from Hong Kong SAR Basic Law Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, the NPC Foreign Affairs Committee, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Commerce, the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR, the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR and relevant departments of the Hong Kong and Macao SAR governments, as well as experts and scholars from the Chinese mainland and the Hong Kong and Macao SARs, attended the seminar. The experts and scholars had in-depth discussions at the seminar on six sub-topics under the two major topics: "Hong Kong SAR and the Development of the Rule of Law in Matters Involving Foreign Parties in the New Era" and "Better Leveraging the Strength of Hong Kong SAR in Promoting International Cooperation on the Rule of Law".