THE OVERVIEW ON THE UK-CHINA CONFERENCE ON PUBLIC LAW

Renmin University of China hosted the first “UK-China Conference on Public Law” on 2–6 September, 2013. The conference was a collaboration between Renmin University of China, Oxford University, University College of London (UCL), China Association of Constitutional Law, and the United Kingdom Constitutional Law Group. The conference was co-organised by Nick Barber from Oxford University, Jeff King from UCL, Han Dayuan from Renmin University and Li Ruiyi from Nankai University. It was partly sponsored by multinational law firm Clifford Chance. More than 50 Chinese and British academics participated. A range of topics was covered including the position of soft law and conventions in constitutions, constitutional structure, the rule of law, judicial independence, protection of human rights, interaction between welfare states and the rule of law, and the role of the court and the judge in regulating administration. Chinese and UK academics of public law actively participated in discussions. The conference marked an unprecedented communication and exchange on constitutionalism between Chinese and British scholars.