The 6th Training Session of China-AALCO Exchange and Research Program on International Law (CAERP) was successfully held from 24 to 29 July 2023 in Beijing and from 30 July to 4 August 2023 in Hong Kong SAR, the People’s Republic of China.
The CAERP resumed after three years of interval due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The last training programme was organized in 2019.
The CAERP initiative - conceived and executed with great efficiency by the Department of Law and Treaty, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, in conjunction with the Wuhan University for International Law, Asian Academy of International Law and the AALCO Secretariat - was received with great acclaim by all the participating trainees, who saw the CAERP Program as a platform for enhanced cooperation between AALCO Member States on an academic, professional and intellectual level, and as a vital step towards improved capacity-building in the field of international law for countries in the region.
Over the course of an intensive two weeks, the trainees attended lectures by internationally renowned scholars and practitioners of international law on a wide range of topics in both public and private international law and spanning the theoretical and practical facets of a range of diverse and contemporary issues such as: Charter of the United Nations and International Law, Third World Approach to International Law, International Investment Law, International Judicial Institutions, Climate Change and International Environmental Law, New development in the Law of the Sea and many others.
The opening ceremony of the session was held in conjunction with the Colloquium on Developing Countries and International Law. Distinguished dignitaries such as H.E. Nong Rong, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, P.R. China, Prof. Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai, Former Deputy Prime Minister and Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, Mr. Liu Zhenmin, former Under Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ms. Teressa Cheng Yeuk-wah, Asian Academy of International Law and Dr. Kamalinne Pinitpuvadol, Secretary General of AALCO opened the training programme on 24 July 2023.
In his Inaugural address, H.E. Dr. Kamalinne Pinitpuvadol, the Secretary-General expressed his immense gratitude to the Government of the People’s Republic of China for resuming the CAERP and appreciated the Wuhan University for International Law and Asian Academy of International Law, the co-organisers of the programme, for their tireless efforts and support to the programme. He recalled the long standing relationship between the People’s Republic of China and AALCO and highlighted the significant contributions of the country to the organization both in substantive and organizational matters, including but not limited to, secondment of a Deputy Secretary-General to AALCO, Setting up of a sixth Regional Arbitration Centre in Hong Kong (SAR), nominating eminent academicians to be a Special Rapporteur to Working Groups of AALCO.
He warmly welcomed the representatives of the AALCO Member States Ambassadors, Distinguished guests, eminent international law academics, practitioners and all participants for joining and providing valuable experience and knowledge to the programme.
The Secretary-General moderated the second session during the forum titled: Developing Countries’ Contribution to International Law which saw eminent speakers such as Prof. Juwana Hikmahanto (President of Asian Society of International Law), Prof. ZHU Lijiang（China University of Political Science and Law), Prof. HUANG Zhixiong（Wuhan University), Judge Fatsah Ouguergouz（Rector of African Institute of International Law), Prof. HUANG Yao（Sun Yat-sen University) and Balakrishnan Rajagopal（Massachusetts Institute of Technology).
On 25 July 2023, the Secretary-General delivered a lecture on the topic: “An overview of AALCO’s engagement with International Investment Law (IIL) and the Investor-State Dispute Settlement Mechanism (ISDSM)”. He highlighted the significance of the topic especially in the current era where the AALCO Member States are emerging as global economic powers. He also outlined the AALCO’s engagement with this topic.
The training programme was attended by over 35 Member States of AALCO and international organizations and regional organizations such as ASEAN, League of Arab States and Africa Union.
The Secretary-General’s lecture could be found below:
Speech of the Secretary-General
