On 29 November 2020, the Seminar on Learning and Implementing Xi Jinping's Thought on the Rule of Law and the Innovative Development of Law Journals in the New Era was successfully held at Wuhan University Law School. Editors from 21 journals were invited to attend, including Xinhua Digest, Legal Daily, Chinese Journal of Law, China Legal Science, Peking University Law Journal, Global Law Review, Political and Legal Forum, Journal of Comparative Law, The Jurist, Law Science, Science of Law, Studies in Law and Business, Contemporary Law Review, Legal Forum, Journal of National Prosecutors College, Northern Legal Science, Research on Rule of Law, Jianghan Tribune, Wuhan University Journal of Humanity & Social Science, Social Science Edition Journal of China University of Geosciences, Journal of South-Central University for Nationalities, etc. Prof. Qin Qianhong, chief editor of Law Review, presided over the ceremony.
Tao Jun, Vice President of Wuhan University's Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences, briefly introduced the historical heritage, disciplinary strength, important platforms, significant achievements and journal arrays of humanities and social sciences of Wuhan University. He believed that this symposium, with Xi Jinping's thought on the rule of law as its theme, is significant and keenly aware, and will certainly achieve fruitful results and produce good repercussions.
Prof. Feng Guo, Dean of Wuhan University Law School, said that the Central Working Conference on the Comprehensive Rule of Law had clarified the guiding position of Xi Jinping's thought on the rule of law. This seminar should further study and implement Xi Jinping's thought, and commit to promoting the construction of China under the rule of law.
Zhang Guangxing, President of the Chinese Journal of Law, discussed a few thoughts on Xi Jinping's thoughts on the rule of law from the perspective of a journal editor. He expected the editors of Law to further improve their theoretical level and promote the rule of law in China.
Wang Renbo, Editor-in-Chief of the Political and Legal Forum, spoke on the theme that legal studies should focus on Chinese knowledge and Chinese values. First of all, it is important to focus on understanding the specific meaning of Chinese rule of law thought. Secondly, how to correctly understand the relationship between common values and specific values is an issue that deserves attention in the current research and practice of the rule of law in China.
Dr. Xia Jinlai, Executive Director of Mingshi Law Firm, expressed her sincere gratitude to the seniors and colleagues of the academia and wished the seminar a great success.
At the end of the opening ceremony, Editor-in-Chief Qin Qianhong conveyed the congratulations of Prof. Zhang Xinbao, President of the Law Science, and sent a message to all participants from the point of view of political stance, professionalism, work attitude and physical fitness.
The keynote session was then moderated by Prof. Wen Shiyang, Executive Associate Editor of the Studies in Law and Business.
Ding Jielin, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Comparative Law, made four points on the development of the journal: firstly, the articles of PhD students should be taken seriously; secondly, the capacity of journals should be expanded; thirdly, there should be strict control on Collaborative papers; and fourthly, the Law Journal Research Association should formulate a code of conduct for journal citations.
Zhi Zhenfeng, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Global Law Review, emphasized the importance of the journal's original function as a platform and carrier for presenting good articles, while he stressed the importance of strict academic standards in the study of Xi Jinping's thought on the rule of law.
Editor Wang Qinglin of Xinhua Digest argued that the study of Xi Jinping's thought on the rule of law should advance innovation on the basis of accurate political standing, while emerging cross-disciplines such as Supervision Law and Health Law should be welcomed.
Prof. Li Haiping, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Contemporary Law Review, believed that journal editors should focus on the relationship between political stances and academic logic, academic hotspots and academic foundations, and foreign legal theory and Chinese reality.
Wu Yan, deputy editor-in-chief of Law Forum, pointed out that law journals have the mission of nurturing young talent. Law journals should focus on specific topics of Xi Jinping's thought on the rule of law, while actively embracing the Internet to achieve innovation in content and form.
Prof. Yang Jianjun, Editor-in-Chief of Science of Law, pointed out that Xi Jinping's Thought on the Rule of Law has put forward a new theory, reconstructed the discourse system and created a new model of the rule of law. Law journals should actively study, propagate and interpret Xi Jinping's thought on the rule of law.
Jiang Anjie, Director of the Theory Department of Legal Daily, believed that editors of journals should find the right political standing and correct orientation, and strive to achieve organic unity of politics, topicality and ideology. At the same time, she believed that journals and newspapers should promote exchanges between academic and practical communities.
Prof. Dong Huijiang, Editor-in-Chief of Northern Legal Science, highlighted the issue of the relationship between the journal and the evaluation system, and provided an introduction to the specifics of the Northern Legal Science.
In the afternoon of 29 November, according to the agenda, the seminar entered the discussion session. In five sessions, the editors and the young faculty members engaged in a dialogue on the topic, and gave their views on the selection of topics, research methods, structure, literature citation and submission strategies.
The seminar is the second consecutive year of legal journals and academic exchanges held by the Law School of Wuhan University. It has received wide attention and support from the academic community and achieved complete success as scheduled.
Edited by Yuan Yuhang & Wu Liuqing