The 2026 Annual Academic Conference of the Chinese Society of International Law was held in Shanghai from April 24 to 26. Under the theme "Upholding International Rule of Law and Improving Global Governance", the conference featured a symposium on "Firmly Safeguarding the Post-War International Order with a Correct View of International Law".
Qi Dahai, Director-General of the Department of Treaty and Law of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Governance Initiative last September, pointing the way for us to uphold the rule of law amid changes and turmoil. Although the current international order faces severe challenges, the general direction of world peace and development remains unchanged. The more volatile and complex the international situation, the more resolutely we must safeguard the international system with the UN at its core, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms of international relations grounded in the purposes and principles of the UN Charter中国日报网.
At the symposium, experts and scholars discussed the prohibition of the abuse of force under international law, the impact of unilateralism on the international order, and the influence of certain countries’ foreign policies on the international legal order.
Ma Xinmin, a member of the UN International Law Commission, emphasized that the development of international law requires "upholding fundamentals, forging new ground, and promoting transformation". While firmly safeguarding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, we should promote innovation in the concepts, principles, and rules of international law, and enhance the voice and participation of Global South countries.
During the conference, the Chinese Society of International Law issued a Statement Calling on All Countries to Abide by International Law and Oppose the Illegal Use of Force. It urges all nations to observe international law, practice international rule of law, and resolve international disputes peacefully; to resolutely oppose the illegal use of force in international relations, safeguard world peace and security, and advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Co-hosted by the Chinese Society of International Law and East China University of Political Science and Law, the conference gathered over 1,500 experts, scholars, practitioners, and students from universities, research institutions, government departments, judicial circles, and the legal service industry nationwide.
