On December 3, 2022, the Second Invitational Moot Arbitration Competition of the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao Colleges and Universities (IMAC) successfully concluded, after months of preparation since March of the same year. A total of 78 teams of 55 universities from Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, and Macao participated in this competition, which focused on a dispute over a cross-border equipment sales contract against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, involving controversial issues such as the validity of arbitration agreements on third party, the feasibility of online court hearings, the application of the CISG, and the determination of force majeure. The case enjoyed both timeliness and practicality. The Law School of ZUEL selected a team of international students, including undergraduate law students, master’s students in intellectual property, and doctoral students in international law. They were coached by teacher Ding Hantao from the International Law Department, with student Wu Jing as the leader. They made it to the finals and ultimately secured the runner-up position, narrowly losing to Fudan University.
Since receiving the invitation, ZEUL attached great importance to it. On the day of the competition, Professor Yao Li, a Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC ZUEL Committee and Vice President of ZEUL, and Wang Zhengjun, Vice Dean of the School of International Education, specifically attended the event to encourage the team members to perform at their best. Professor Jiang He, Vice Dean of the Law School, and Professor Ding Hantao provided online guidance. In a round of intense competitions, the ZUEL team won unanimous praise from the judges and organizing committee for its outstanding performance, ultimately achieving the second place. With coach Ding and leader Wu, the team consisted of four international students-Habiba Yaouba from Cameroon, a Ph.D. student of the International Law Program (Class of 2019); Aayur Phuyal from Nepal, an undergraduate student of the Law Program (Class of 2019); Emmanuel Mensah Aboagye from Ghana, a Ph.D. student of the International Law Program (Class of 2021); and Gebreamanueal Amen Mekreselasse from Ethiopia, a master’s student of the Intellectual Property Law Program (Class of 2022). Ding, on basis of his professional knowledge and experience, provided meticulous coaching and organized rehearsals prior to the competition to help the team members adjust their mindset and ensure their best performance.
(With coach Ding and leader Wu, the ZUEL team of four international students-Habiba Yaouba, Aayur Phuyal, Emmanuel Mensah Aboagye, Gebreamanueal Amen Mekreselasse participated in the 2nd Invitational Moot Arbitration Competition for Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao Students)
The ZUEL international students’ team was invited for the 2nd Invitational Moot Arbitration Competition for Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao Students, as an outstanding team in the Arbitration Moot Court- Perception of China from Judicial Experience, which sponsored by the China Scholarship Council and organized by the China University of Political Science and Law.
(With coach Ding and leader Sun Yijie, the ZUEL team of three international students participated in the Arbitration Moot Court- Perception of China from Judicial Experience)
The 2nd Invitational Moot Arbitration Competition for Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao Students was guided by the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs Office of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, the Research Office of the Hong Kong and Macao Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, and the Exchange Bureau of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council. It was hosted by Fudan University, with the support of the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs Office of Fudan University, the School of Law of Fudan University, and UniYep. The event was co-organized by the Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission and the Hong Kong International Arbitration Center, aiming to provide a platform for students from various universities to exchange ideas and explore legal issues of common concern among international youth. It also aimed to blaze new avenues for practical legal training and cultivate high-level foreign-related legal talent in the new era.
Emmanuel Mensah Aboagye, a Ph.D. student of the International Law Program (Class of 2021), is also a master’s student of the Chinese Law Program (Class of 2019). Gebreamanueal Amen Mekreselasse, a master’s student of the Intellectual Property Law Program (Class of 2022), is a participant in the “Africa Intellectual Property Foreign-Related Legal Training Program” under the “China-Africa Friendship” Chinese Government Scholarship program. Their impressive performance fully demonstrates the outstanding legal professionalism of ZUEL international students and their spirit of perseverance. In the future, the Law School will continue to implement the important instructions from General Secretary Xi Jinping regarding the strengthening of foreign-related legal talent cultivation, and support and encourage more international students to participate in important domestic and international moot court competitions.
