7th China-AALCO Exchange and Research Programme (CAERP) held in Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
The 7th China AALCO-Exchange and Research Programme (CAERP) was successfully held from 30 June-6 July 2024 in Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China. The training session was jointly organized by the Department of Treaty and Law, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China and the Asian-Academy of International Law (AAIL). Dr. Kamalinne Pinitpuvadol, Secretary-General, AALCO delivered the Inaugural Address for the event. Over the course of one week close to three dozen delegates from AALCO Member States and non-Member States participated in the intensive training programme, which covered a range of topics including Arbitration, Mediation, Peaceful Settlement of Disputes, Air and Space Law, the law and ethics of Artificial Intelligence and the role of Hong Kong as a centre of alternative dispute settlement among others. The programme saw distinguished resource persons like Ms. Teresa Cheng, Founding Member and Co-Chairperson, Asian Academy of International Law, Mr. Anthony Neo, Co-Chairman, Asian-Academy of International Law, Mr. Adrian Lai, Deputy Secretary-General and Co-Convenor of the Advisory Board, Asian Academy of International Law, Prof. Zhao Yun, Professor and Head of Department of Law, The University of Hong Kong, Mr. Nick Chan and Mr. Dennis Cai, Director and Deputy-Director of the AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre deliver lectures to the delegates. The delegates also visited the Independent Commission against Corruption, Hong Kong SAR, the Department of Justice of the Hong Kong SAR and the Court of Final Appeal of the Hong Kong SAR as part of the programme. Mr. Abraham Joseph, Legal Officer represented the AALCO Secretariat in the Programme.
The Programme covered themes that highlighted the importance of alternative dispute settlement mechanisms especially arbitration and mediation with a focus on emerging dimensions of international legal cooperation in matters of interest to the Afro-Asian community. The role of AALCO as a consultative body on international law was widely appreciated by the panellists who noted its immense potential in strengthening solidarity between the continents of Asia and Africa. The Closing Ceremony of the 7th CAERP was held at the Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong SAR on 6 July 2024.
