November 4^th to 5^th 2017, the “New Silk Road Law School Alliance Annual Meeting 2017 & International Conference on Legal Education Reform” was successfully held at Wuhan University School of Law. The meeting was sponsored by the New Silk Road Law School Alliance and undertaken by Wuhan University School of Law. Over 20 deans and experts of renowned law schools from China, the USA, Russia, Finland, Australia, South Africa, Israel, etc. Attended the meeting.

On November 4^th, the “New Silk Road Law School Alliance Annual Meeting 2017 & International Conference on Legal Education Reform” held its opening ceremony in the morning. The ceremony was hosted by Prof. QIN Tianbao, Deputy Dean of Wuhan University School of Law, Prof. LI Fei, Vice President of Wuhan University, Prof. FENG Guo, Dean of Wuhan University School of Law, Prof. SHAN Wenhua, Dean of Xi’an Jiaotong University School of Law, Prof. Kimmo Teppo Nuotio, Dean of University of Helsinki Faculty of Law addressed the ceremony.

After the opening ceremony, the meeting proceeded to the “Internationalization of Legal Education” forum hosted by Prof. FENG Guo, Dean of Wuhan University School of Law. Prof. Kimmo Teppo Nuotio, Dean of University of Helsinki Faculty of Law shared his opinion about the practice and plan of new legal education mode. Prof. SHEN Wei, Dean of Shandong University Law School exchanged ideas about the Chinese legal education under the background of (anti-) globalization with other experts. Prof. Ekaterina Kiseleva, Deputy Dean of People’s Friendship University of Russia Law Institute addressed the importance of academic, language and literature search competence cultivation. Prof. LUO Wei from Washington University in St. Louis introduced the basic information about the legal education in Washington University. Prof. Charlie Xiao-chuan WENG from University of New South Wales shared his experience in establishing academic advisor system for international students. Prof. SU Jinyuan, Assistant Dean of Xi’an Jiaotong University School of Law introduced the measures taken by Xi’an Jiaotong University in the internationalization of legal education.

November 4^th afternoon held the round table meeting between Chinese deans on “Development of Legal Education in the New Era” hosted by Prof. HE Ronggong, Deputy Dean of Wuhan University School of Law. Prof. JI Weidong, former Dean of Shanghai Jiaotong University Koguan Law School, Prof. SHAN Wenhua, Dean of Xi’an Jiaotong University School of Law, Prof. SHEN Wei, Dean of Shandong University Law School, Prof. CUI Guobin, Deputy Dean of Tsinghua University School of Law, Prof. SHI Yan’an, Deputy Dean of Renmin University of China Law School, Prof. ZHU Yansheng, Deputy Dean of Xiamen University School of Law, Prof. LUO Wei from Washington University in St. Louis, Prof. FENG Guo, Dean of Wuhan University School of Law, Prof. QIN Tianbao, Deputy Dean of Wuhan University School of Law, Prof. ZHU Jie, Assistant Dean of Wuhan University School of Law, Prof. LI Chengliang, Assistant Dean of Wuhan University School of Law and other experts discussed the new challenges faced by Chinese legal education, the rules of legal talent cultivation, the balance between theory and practice, and the paths of legal education reform.

November 5^th morning held the forum of “ ‘Belt and Road’ Construction and Opportunities for Legal Education” hosted by Prof. JI Weidong, former Dean of Shanghai Jiaotong University Koguan Law School. Prof. SHI Yan’an, Deputy Dean of Renmin University of China Law School, conducted in-depth communications with other experts regarding “Safety, Risks and Rule of Law: Common Challenges and Opportunities for ‘Belt and Road’ Countries”. Prof. CUI Guobin, Deputy Dean of Tsinghua University School of Law, introduced the internationalization of and challenges faced by the legal education of Tsinghua University under the theme of “internationalization of legal education”. Prof. XIAO Yongping, Director of Wuhan University Institute of International Law, talked about the new opportunities to legal education brought by the “Belt and Road” construction. Prof. Tomer Broude, Director, of Hebrew University of Jerusalem Human Rights Center believed that the legal education of “Belt and Road” countries should focus more on the reality and seek development by communications. Prof. Tracy Gutuza from University of Cape Town Faculty of Law introduced the legal education in Cape Town. Prof. ZHANG Sheng, Assistant Dean of Xi’an Jiaotong University School of Law share the experience of Xi’an Jiaotong University in international students cultivation.

After the forum, as witnessed by the representatives, the Alliance had its handover ceremony, Prof. FENG Guo, Dean of Wuhan University School of Law, became the new president of the Alliance Committee.

Subsequently, the meeting came to its last agenda, i.e., the New Silk Road Law School Alliance Annual Meeting 2017” hosted by Prof. Qin Tianbao. The delegates present at the meeting discussed and decided the venue and date for the annual meeting of 2018 and 2019, the new membership of University of Belgrade and University of Bergen. At the end, President of the Alliance Committee, Prof. FENG Guo delivered the closing speech, giving thanks and welcome to the delegates and bringing forward the outlook of further cooperation and progress between the members of the Alliance.

As undertaker of the meeting, Wuhan University School of Law has recently made the “Double Top” List of the Ministry of Education. In recent years, based on the global vision of education, Wuhan University School of Law has established exchanges and partnerships with 50 renowned law schools from North America, Oceania, Europe, Asia, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, launching activities such as academic visits, joint researches and student exchanges. The successful hosting of the “New Silk Road Law School Alliance Annual Meeting 2017 & International Conference on Legal Education Reform” has shown the academic strength and international influence of Wuhan University School of Law, and it shall push the School of Law toward a new phase of “Double Top” construction.

The New Silk Road Law School Alliance was jointly initiated by over 20 domestic and overseas law schools and established in 2015. It is now consist of 23 members from 14 countries. Based on “Belt and Road”, the Alliance focuses on faculty and students exchange, joint teaching and research program, and legal information sharing, dedicated to strengthen cooperation in legal education and scientific research. As the “Belt and Road” Initiative keeping making progresses and breakthroughs, the successful hosting the International Conference on Legal Education Reform is of significant importance to promoting international cooperation on legal education, responding to the “Belt and Road” construction, and promulgating the Silk Road spirit of openness and inclusiveness. The members of the Alliance shall keep close contacts and communications, to enhance exchange and cooperation in legal education and scientific research.