On November 9^th, the Symposium of International Law on Treaty Interpretation was held in Fudan Law School. The symposium attracted about 30 experts and scholars, including Chief editor from Shanghai People's Publishing House, professors from Tsinghua University, Renmin University of China, China Foreign Affairs University, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China University of Political Science and Law, Wuhan University, Xiamen University, Jilin University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Sun Yat-sen University, University of International Business and Economics, East China University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai University of International Business and Economics and Shanghai International Studies University, international law and other discipline professors as well as international law students from Fudan law school.

Group photo of experts and scholars

The new million-word book “International Law on Treaty Interpretation” (two volumes) written by distinguished Prof. Zhang Naigen of FLS, Doctoral Supervisor of international law discipline in our law school and Vice President of China Society of International Law, is the first systematic research monograph on the theory and practice of international law concerning treaty interpretation. It outlines the research status quo of treaty interpretation in international legal academia, illustrates some general international law issues in treaty interpretation, comments international law theory and practice concerning treaty interpretation in the past four hundred years, analyzes hundreds of cases of the International Court of Justice, the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, the WTO Appellate Body, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Dispute, the European Court of Human Rights, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the United Nations Ad Hoc International Criminal Tribunals interpreting relevant treaties, and conducts a special study on the practice of treaty interpretation in China for the past two decades.

The publication ceremony of “International Law on Treaty Interpretation”

In the conference, Vice Dean Chen Li firstly delivered the welcome speech, expressed warm welcome as well as sincere gratitude to the experts and scholars from different universities and research institutions for attending the symposium. She also wished the seminar a great success. Experts and scholars attending the conference then developed a in-depth discussion of the theory and practice of international law on treaty interpretation from four perspectives, including “the theoretical issues of international law of treaty interpretation”, “treaty interpretation in general international law practice”, “treaty interpretation in international trade law practice” and “treaty interpretation in the practice of international investment law”. 

The discussion was hosted by Prof. Zhang Naigen. Prof. Jiang Guoqing from China Foreign Affairs University, Prof. Cai Congyan from Xiamen University, Prof. Song Jie from Zhejiang Gongshang University, Prof. He Zhipeng from Jilin University, Prof. Luo Guoqiang from Wuhan University, Prof. Ma Zhongfa from Fudan Law School, Vice Dean Zhu Lijiang from China University of Political Science and Law, Prof. Wang Yong from East China University of Political Science and Law, Dr. Zhu Dan from Fudan Law School, Prof. Zhang Lei from East China University of Political Science and Law, Prof. Che Pizhao from Tsinghua University, Prof. Han Liyu From Renmin University of China, Researcher Liu Jingdong from Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Prof. Zuo Haicong from University of International Business and Economics, Prof. Zhu Shudi from Fudan Law School, Associate Prof. Zhang Qi from Shanghai International Studies University, Prof. Yu Jingsong from Renmin University of China, Associate Prof. Zhang Sheng from Xi'an Jiaotong University, Dean Zhang Qinglin as well as Vice Dean Tao Lifeng of Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, and Postdoctoral fellow Wang Kan from Sun Yat-sen University delivered keynote speeches successively.

Scholars delivered speeches successively

During the one-day seminar, many comprehensive and in-depth discussions on the theoretical and practical issues of international law concerning treaty interpretations were conducted. All the attendees were deeply encouraged and hoped to further relevant academic researches and discussions in the future.

Translator: YANG Yuhan, LLM Student of International law, Class 2021