From 9 to 10 October, Moot Shanghai 2020 Special Edition was successfully co-organized and hosted by United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and Shanghai University of Political Science and Law (SHUPL). The event, which coincides with the 10th anniversary of Moot Shanghai, attracted outstanding law students from many different jurisdictions to participate in the competition, had invited leading professionals such as practicing lawyers, mediators and arbitrators as judges, and had gained great support from Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (Shanghai International Arbitration Center), Moot Alumni Association, Withers Law Firm, and Zhong Lun Law Firm.
On the morning of the 9th, the opening ceremony was held simultaneously at several venues through Zoom, the online platform. Professor Liu Xiaohong, President and Deputy Chancellor of SHUPL, and Athita Komindr, Head of Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific of UNCITRAL, addressed the ceremony respectively at SHUPL venue and at UNCITRAL venue. At the SHUPL venue, Ouyang Meihe, Director of Department of International Cooperation and Exchange and Dean of School of International Exchange, Chen Fengguang, Deputy Director of Academic Affairs Office, Wei Lei, Deputy Director of Graduate Student Department, Ni Yubin, Deputy Director of Informatization Office, Chen Na, Deputy Chancellor of School of International Law, Zhang Zhengyi, Deputy Director of Department of International Cooperation and Exchange, Liu Ling, Student Project Coordinator of Department of International Cooperation and Exchange, members of SHUPL team to participate in this event, and other students attended the opening ceremony.
In her speech, Liu Xiaohong expressed sincere thanks to all the partners, noting that during the past decade, Moot Shanghai has built an important bridge for the exchange of international legal talents, promoted exchanges and cooperation in international legal practice, and helped young law students improve their legal theoretical literacy and application ability; in the meantime, she expressed good wishes for Moot Shanghai 2020 Special Edition. Athita Komindr presented the functions and history of UNCITRAL, and outlined the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) and Singapore Convention on Mediation, providing theoretical guidance to all the participants.
SHUPL team had earnestly prepared before the event, actively participated in every agenda, learned theoretical knowledge, and enhanced their practical ability, showing a style of excellence of SHUPLers.
The competition gathered a number of teams from well-known universities at home and abroad. The participants showed their in-depth understanding and interpretation of international arbitration rules of international commercial law and arbitration law in the field of skilled use. In the competition, the team members discussed the most cutting-edge topics of international commercial mediation, combining with some hot issues in the context of the international environment, especially the international commercial legal issues brought about by COVID-19. Subsequently, from a professional point of view, the judges asked questions and commented on the teams, and actively shared their experience in the career with the participants.
Along the way, Moot Shanghai has witnessed the growth of law students around the world. In the simulation of commercial arbitration, young law students from different countries, with different cultural backgrounds and legal systems, competed with each other, got commented by experienced and capable judges, and developed quickly through the fierce competition. The participants constantly unlocked new practical skills which greatly enhanced their legal professionalism and comprehensive ability.
For ten years, Moot Shanghai has been building a platform for the exchange of international law talents and spreading the spirit of the rule of law. The advanced development concept of specialization, internationalization and diversification has given Moot Shanghai sustained attention from the legal community in Shanghai and around the world. As a long-standing co-organizer of Moot Shanghai, SHUPL has conducted extensive and in-depth exchanges with legal professionals from all over the world, and has reached long-term cooperative relations with many universities, law firms, arbitration committees and other institutions at home and abroad, further expanding the international influence of SHUPL. (Written by Liu Ling & Tan Hanqi; Photographed by Ouyang Bo & Wang Zhibo)
Department of International Cooperation and Exchange
Oct. 10, 2020
