On the afternoon of September 2, 2026, Peking University Law School held its Fall Semester 2026 Welcome Reception for International Students at Guoshuang Courtyard. Incoming exchange students from leading institutions around the world, including Duke University School of Law, Columbia Law School, Cornell Law School, the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of New South Wales, Esade Business School at Ramon Llull University, and the University of Milan, gathered in the third courtyard of the complex alongside international students in the School’s LL.M. Program in Chinese Law and representatives of current students. The reception was attended by Guo Li, Dean of Peking University Law School; Dai Xin, Vice Dean; Prof. Zhao Hong and Prof. Lou Jianbo; Tenured A.P. Cao Zhixun; Assistant Professors Wang Huawei, Bian Renjun, and Wu Jingjian; Postdoctoral Researcher Zhang Tianbai; and relevant staff in charge of the Teaching Affairs Office and the External Affairs Office.

The reception was moderated by Dai Xin. Recalling Peking University’s long history and rich heritage since its founding in 1898, he encouraged students to take time during their studies and daily lives to appreciate Yanyuan’s distinctive cultural traditions and spirit.

In his address, Guo Li extended a warm welcome to all new students. He noted that Peking University Law School has a rich tradition and has been home to generations of distinguished scholars. International students, he said, are both outstanding representatives and cultural ambassadors of their home institutions, and will embark on a unique journey of academic and cultural exploration at the School. Expressing his high hopes for them, he offered three valuable pieces of advice concerning safety, learning, and social life: “Stay Safe,” “Stay Curious,” and “Stay with Friends.”

Speaking on behalf of the teaching faculty, Assistant Professor Bian Renjun drew on her own experience of studying abroad to share advice with new students around two central themes: “Language” and “People.” She explained that legal English and legal Chinese often go beyond the everyday meanings of words and are deeply rooted in institutional and cultural contexts. When encountering distinctive concepts in Chinese law that have no direct translation, students should diligently organize and record them, treating them as keys to understanding the world of Chinese law. She also encouraged students to look beyond their books and engage in conversations with faculty members and fellow students to develop their communication skills and insight.

During the student representative speeches, Islay Kayes, an incoming exchange student from Tilburg University in the Netherlands, began with a warm greeting in Chinese. She expressed her admiration for Peking University and recalled the wonderful experiences of her earlier travels in China. She had been touched by the hospitality of the Chinese people and impressed by the level of development in modern China. That trip inspired her determination to return to China and pursue further studies at Peking University. Expressing her honor at joining Peking University Law School, she encouraged fellow students to engage deeply with Chinese culture, cherish campus life, and build bridges for cultural exchange.

Tian Xinying, an undergraduate student from the 2024 cohort, then welcomed and greeted the international students on behalf of current students. She looked forward to further opportunities for mutual learning and enrichment through legal studies and cultural exchanges.

Clemens Erik Buschmann from Germany, representing new students in the LL.M. Program in Chinese Law, approached his remarks from a comparative law perspective, emphasizing that the study of different countries’ laws should be centered on people. He observed that law consists of more than texts and rules: it also embodies concern for people and shapes their lives. Each country’s laws reflect distinctive values and a national spirit. He looked forward to engaging actively in exchanges, dialogue on an equal footing, and mutual learning with his fellow LL.M. students from 14 countries and regions around the world, drawing on the opportunities offered by Peking University Law School.

After faculty members and students posed for a group photograph at Guoshuang Courtyard, the School hosted a relaxed and enjoyable “Happy Hour” tea gathering for Chinese and international students. Through lively conversations and laughter, participants deepened their understanding of one another and formed friendships, beginning a new chapter of their academic journeys together at Yanyuan in early autumn.

Peking University Law School has consistently upheld the University’s spirit of intellectual freedom and inclusiveness, and has long been committed to cultivating highly qualified legal professionals with global perspectives and cross-cultural communication skills. The welcome reception offered incoming international students a friendly setting in which to get to know the School and meet faculty members and fellow students. It also marked a fresh beginning for the School’s international legal education and cross-cultural exchanges in the new academic year.