On 2 April 2021, the first plenary session of the Fourth Advisory Committee on International Law of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was held in Beijing. Luo Zhaohui, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attended the meeting and delivered a speech, and Prof. Xiao Yongping, Dean of School of International Rule of Law and Director of Institute of International Law of Wuhan University, was appointed as an advisor to the Committee, and Prof. Yu Minyou, Dean of the Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies, and Prof. Huang Zhixiong, Vice Dean of the Law School and Chief Expert of the team of School of International Rule of Law, were appointed as members.

Mr. Jia Guide, Director General of the Department of Treaty and Law of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, presided over the meeting. Vice Minister Luo Zhaohui presented the appointment letters to the advisors and members respectively, and delivered a speech on the current international situation and prominent international law issues, as well as how to better play the role of the Advisory Committee. The participating advisors and members held practical and in-depth discussions on relevant hot issues of international law.

Established in January 2015, the Advisory Committee on International Law of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is composed of renowned domestic experts in international law, whose main duty is to provide legal opinions, research reports and policy recommendations on major diplomatic issues. The current term of appointment is from April 2021 to March 2023.

Edited by Yuan Yuhang & Wu Liuqing