Opening Ceremony of CESL at CUPL

The opening ceremony of CESL was held at CUPL's Changping campus at 6:30pm on October 23rd, 2008. Mr. Li Keqiang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau and Vice Premier, and Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, both attended the ceremony.

The guests of honor from the European side were: Ambassador Serge Abou, Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to China; Mr. Herv?? Ladsous, Ambassador of France; Professor Monika Auweter-Kurtz, President of the University of Hamburg; Professor Hans-Heinrich Trute, Dean of Law Faculty, the University of Hamburg; Mr. Franz Jensen, Director of External Relations Directorate H/2 China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and Mongolia, the European Commission; Mr. Joäo Aguiar Machado, Deputy Director-General for External Relations of the European Commission; Mr. Fernando Andresen Guimarães, Member of President Barroso's Cabinet; Mr. Michael Pulch, Minister Counsellor and Deputy Head of the Delegation of European Commission to China; Mr. De Beanst, Director of Protocol of the European Commission; and Prof. Ninon Colneric, Co-Dean of CESL.

The guests of honor from the Chinese side were: Mr. Hu Kangsheng, Member of the Standing Committee of the NPC and Director of the Law Committee of the NPC; Mr. Zhang Xinsheng, Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Education; Professor Shi Yajun, Chairman of the Party Committee of CUPL; Professor Xu Xianming, President of CUPL; Mr. Zhang Fusen, Member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Director of the Committee for Social and Legal Affairs of the CPPCC, Former Minister of the Ministry of Justice; Mr. Zhang Sujun, Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Justice; Mr. Hu Zhong, Vice-Chairman of the China Law Society; Mr. Zhai Jun, Assistant to the Minister of Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ms. Liu Jinghui, Secretary-General of the China Scholarship Council; and Prof. Fang Liufang, Co-Dean of CESL. In addition, many guests from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European partners of CESL, Tsinghua University, Beijing Normal University, the National Judges College, other related institutes, and about 1000 teachers and students from CUPL were also in attendance. The ceremony was hosted by Prof. Shi Yajun.

The Ceremony

President Barroso of the European Commission and Vice Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council of China

President Barroso and Vice Premier Li Keqiang unveiling the plaque of CESL

President Xu Xianming of CUPL, President Monika Auweter-Kurtz of Hamburg University, and Prof. Shi Yajun (acting as the Master of Ceremony)

Audience at the ceremony

President Xu Xianming was the first to deliver a speech. He began by welcoming all guests in attendance at the ceremony and by wishing good luck to the newly inaugurated candidates of the Double Master Program. He followed by pointing out that the establishment of CESL is not only an important event in the history of Chinese legal education, but also a milestone for Chinese legal development. He added that, being the only cross-nation, jointly operated school of law in China, CESL is certain to be a bridge for promoting Sino-European legal exchange. President Xu expressed the belief that CESL will not only be an institute for Chinese students to learn European Law, but also a center for educating the world on Chinese legal development. Because CESL is a prestigious, international, high-end, and cross-cultural school of law, its graduates will one day become the leaders of legal development in China. This will make them a powerful force for progress.

President Xu then expressed his appreciation to Mr. Zhang Fusen and Mr. Serge Abou, the co-creators of CESL, and various governmental departments and institutions in and outside of China who had all provided huge support toward the establishment of CESL. He especially thanked Premier Wen Jiabao, Vice Premier Li Keqiang and the European Commission's President Barroso for the care and support they have offered to CESL. He ended his speech by remarking: "CESL is the rising sun, and as such we need to thank the 'Apollos' who make the sun rise."

President Monika Auweter-Kurtz of the University of Hamburg followed President Xu's speech by thanking the European Commission and the Chinese government for their support for CESL, and she expressed special gratitude for the enormous efforts of CUPL to ensure the realization of CESL. She pointed out that in the context of globalization, market liberalization and constant innovation, Europe will need to strengthen its links with international partners, especially with China since it has become such an important player in global affairs. She further commented that the exchange between these two regions in legal development, institutional structure and culture creates a win-win situation for both sides. She expressed confidence that CESL will achieve enormous success.

President Barroso of the EU Commission, in the next speech, remarked that the evening of the opening ceremony is a critical moment in the history of Sino-European relations. Through massive collaborative effort by various parties from both sides, CESL has been firmly established, and the ceremony is a testament to Sino-European cooperation. President Barroso wished the newly inaugurated class the best of luck, and vividly recalled his time as a student of law at Lisbon University, and his later experience studying political science and eventually becoming involved in politics. He used his story to encourage CESL's students to aim as high as possible and not to restrict themselves to the mere service of the law. He pointed out that our complex world of globalization, with its ever expanding societies, economies and markets, will need new laws to consolidate the enrichments. Therefore, law has become the basic necessity in the realm of international cooperation. He further emphasized that CESL should not be a place for the mere study of different legal systems; it should be a force for furthering the mutual development of China and the UE. To conclude, he expressed the wish that all CESL students would use their knowledge to serve society vigorously.

The final speech of the evening was given by Vice Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council of China. He expressed the highest expectations for CESL, stating that CESL is of the utmost importance to the education partnership between China and Europe. Furthermore, CESL is open to the world and should one day become a top institute on the planet. He pointed out that enforcing the rule of law is the fundamental principle of the governance of China and the epoch has called for a rigorous promotion of the spirit of legality. The Vice Premier expressed the belief that elite legal talents are sorely needed as Sino-European ties become ever more entwined.

Vice Premier Li added that through sincere cooperation between China and Europe, CESL will become a pinnacle platform for the advancement of international legal knowledge and the training of cross-cultural talents. He further wished the best of luck to all professors and candidates of CESL for a successful exchange of ideas and for the bright futures of the candidates. Lastly he remarked, "The further modernization of China and the development of the Sino-European strategic partnership will depend on the wisdom and the efforts of the candidates; at the same time, this era is the perfect stage for the candidates to display their talents and their achievements."

After his speech, Vice Premier Li Keqiang along with President Barroso unveiled the plaque of CESL, and Prof. Shi Yajun announced the official establishment of CESL at CUPL.