Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the 18th Session of
Summer Program (2025) of Xiamen Academy of International Law
Zeng Huaqun
30 June 2025
Distinguished Professor ZHANG Yuejiao, distinguished Professors and Leaders, dear colleagues and students, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning!
Warm welcome to Xiamen Academy of International Law!
Warm congratulations for the opening of the 18th session of summer program (2025) of Xiamen Academy!
Warm congratulations for the 20th anniversary of Xiamen Academy!
Thank you very much for your great support and warm encouragement to Xiamen Academy for years!
At this historical moment, firstly, we deeply cherish the memories of Judge SHI Jiuyong, former president of International Court of Justice (ICJ). He is the founder of Xiamen Academy. He presided the first curatorium meeting of Xiamen Academy in the Peace Palace, The Hague and was elected as chairman of the curatorium in July 2005. He led us to create the great early history of Xiamen Academy. On behalf of Administrative Council of the Academy, I extend our great respect and great gratitude to Judge SHI, for his life-long great contribution to international law and international rule of law as well as the establishment and development of Xiamen Academy. His great contribution to the promotion of international law in China and the world will be remembered forever.
At this great moment, I will make brief comments on the mission, tradition and pillars of Xiamen Academy from our experience of last two decades.
1. Mission of Xiamen Academy
What is the mission of Xiamen Academy? In short, to promote international rule of law.
For this mission, we set up the Academy in 2005, to conduct and promote international law education and training for young international lawyers, and to conduct and promote international exchanges among international lawyers from different countries and different cultures.
We always bear our mission in mind and try our best. Currently the summer program is the most important work for us.
2. Tradition of Xiamen Academy
Over the years, step by step, we have formed and developed our tradition in three main aspects: international, inclusive and innovative.
2.1. International （四海一家，we are the world）
By now we have invited more than 100 leading professors, international lawyers from different countries. We have received around 2000 participants home and abroad. We have received great support from international society, not only law schools and academic institutes around the world, but also international law practicing circles and international organizations. In particular we receive great support from ICJ. We held the first curatorium meeting of Xiamen Academy in ICJ in 2005, and since 2006, 9 Judges and the Registrar of ICJ have come to Xiamen for lectures, including four presidents of ICJ, namely President SHI Jiuyong, President Owada, President Tomka, and President Yusuf. I believe this is a very exceptional case in any international law program around the world! It demonstrates the international law authority’s great support to Xiamen Academy! In return, one of our participants, Ms. Wang Yifei, a candidate of Doctor of Law from Xiamen University, applied successfully the Judge-assistant program of ICJ in 2021-2022.
2.2. Inclusive（和而不同，harmony in diversity）
One world, one international law! Since international law is common language for international lawyers, we might learn from each other.
We invite leading professors with different legal tradition and backgrounds, from different countries including common law countries and civil law countries, and from developed countries and developing countries. They give us wonderful lectures on frontier issues of international law from their unique perspectives and experience. Excellent participants come here to study international law, presenting and discussing their understandings and opinions on international law.
For promoting the development of international law, we appreciate and encourage academic democracy and independent thinking, appreciate and encourage Q &A, and provide an inclusive forum for exchanging ideas among leading international lawyers and young international lawyers around the world.
2.3. Innovative （推陈出新, evolution & innovation）
Currently, international law is confronted with great challenges. Learning from history of international law, we understand that international law is changing and developing. We appreciate and encourage new ideas, innovative concepts, and innovative principles on international law.
As most of developing states are new comers in international law--making process after World War II, international lawyers from developing states should make more constructive and innovative contributions to the development of international law. Considering that young lawyers are the future of international law, we especially welcome and encourage innovative ideas and thoughts from all participants!
3. Pillars of Xiamen Academy
Here I like to indicate that there are three pillars supporting the establishment and development of Xiamen Academy.
Pillar I is “leading international lawyers around the world”. In fact, Xiamen Academy is the product of common efforts of international lawyers around the world. The development of Xiamen Academy needs continuous common efforts and support from international lawyers around the world. The main functions of Pillar I include academic guidance for the Academy, faculty of the Academy, and main body for promoting international exchange of international law. The member structure of Pillar I includes members of Curatorium, invited international lawyers and potential invited international lawyers, and all other international lawyers supporting the Academy. The Pillar I is developing. It is very encouraging that more and more leading international lawyers contact us for giving lectures in summer program of Xiamen Academy.
Pillar II is “international law students and practitioners”. They are the main actors in the summer programs and made great efforts and important contributions to Xiamen Academy. The future of international law is decided by young generation of international lawyers. I firmly believe that among our alumni, over the years, many of them will become leading international lawyers.
Pillar III is “host institute and city”. The host institute Xiamen University and host city Xiamen provide great support and service to Xiamen Academy for last two decades. Xiamen Academy is a great dream for us, and also a great responsibility for us. Student-volunteers from Xiamen University, in particular from Xiamen University Law School (XULS), have made great contribution to Xiamen Academy since 2005. As a standing team of volunteers, professors from international law discipline of XULS have devoted to the great cause since 2005. My colleagues, Secretary-general of the Administrative Council, Professor CHEN Huiping, Dr. YU Zhanmin, Dr. SU Yu, Dr. YANG Fan and Ms. XIAO Bin are great examples of volunteers. They have worked diligently with dedicatory spirit and made great contributions to Xiamen Academy for more than 10 years, even 20 years.
In conclusion, we have created the early history of Xiamen Academy and made preliminary achievements since 2005.Keeping the mission of Xiamen Academy in mind, we shall continue to work hard for the great cause! I firmly believe that with dedicatory spirit, common efforts and sustainable development mechanisms, we will achieve great success of the great cause inspired and guided by Judge SHI Jiuyong and other first-generation international lawyers of Xiamen Academy!
