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Joint Statement from the Sino-Us Law Deans Summit

July 07, 2011

June 20-21, 2011
Beijing, PRC
Summit Statement

From June 20 – 21, 2011, nine American and ten Chinese Law School Deans convened a summit to discuss legal education, the role of law schools in society and in building the rule of law, and modes of collaboration among law schools to support academic and institutional goals.  The discussion was wide-ranging and both sides came away with a better understanding of each other’s goals and constraints with regard to important aspects of legal education in their respective countries.

The purpose of the summit was to begin a dialogue and in that spirit both sides herewith set forward the following statement: 

  • We recognize and support the rule of law.
  • We agree on the importance of promoting the integrity of the legal profession.
  • Legal education is important to the functioning of society and is a vital means to design and implement the above principles.
  • We recognize the important contribution of past Sino-US cooperation on legal education and reform and the value in supporting future cooperation. 

Deans on both sides agree to discuss mechanisms for future cooperation by establishing a joint committee to discuss and develop ways to move forward.