On November 28, 2025, Dr. Christophe Bernasconi, Secretary General of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), visited Peking University. The delegation engaged in discussions, signed cooperation documents, and delivered academic lectures.

Vice President Fang Fang received Dr. Bernasconi and his delegation at Linhuxuan. Present at the meeting were Zhao Yun, Representative of the HCCH Asia-Pacific Regional Office; Hu Bin, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Treaties and Law of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Li Yun, Director of the Office of International Cooperation at Peking University; Guo Li, Dean of Peking University Law School; He Qisheng, Bo Ya Distinguished Professor; and Wang Huawei, Assistant to the Dean.

The signing ceremony was held at Leo Koguan Building and was chaired by Prof. He Qisheng. In his remarks, Prof. Guo Li noted that PKU Law School has maintained close cooperation with the HCCH and expressed hopes to deepen collaboration in academic research, internationalized teaching, and practice-oriented talent cultivation. Prof. Guo Li and Dr. Bernasconi then signed the cooperation document.

In his address, Hu Bin congratulated both parties on their collaboration, noting that amid significant differences in national legal systems, the stability of legal rules and certainty in their application are particularly crucial. The Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) has consistently undertaken the vital mission of harmonizing private international law rules. This signing ceremony marks a significant milestone in deepening relevant cooperation, which will facilitate greater engagement by China's legal community in HCCH activities and enable them to make substantial contributions.

Following this, Dr.Bernasconi delivered an academic lecture titled “The Hague Conference on Private International Law and Its Ongoing Work, with a Focus on Transnational Litigation,” moderated by He Qisheng. Prof. Wu Yong, Executive Dean of the School of Law at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Cao Zhixun, Tenured A.P. at Peking University Law School, served as discussants.

Dr. Bernasconi reviewed the founding history, development, and principal work of the Hague Conference on Private International Law. He systematically elaborated on the core mission of the Hague Conference in harmonizing private international law rules and promoting cross-border judicial cooperation, providing detailed explanations of its landmark conventions and latest practices.

During the discussion session, Prof. Wu Yong, A.P. Cao Zhixun, and Prof. Zhao Yun respectively explored the revision of the foreign-related provisions in China's Civil Procedure Law, foreign-related judicial practices, and comparative law perspectives, offering constructive insights and suggestions. In the interactive Q&A segment, faculty and students actively posed questions on topics such as the potential for future negotiations on jurisdiction conventions. Dr. Bernasconi addressed each inquiry in turn, fostering a lively atmosphere throughout the event.

After the lecture, the delegation toured the Peking University Law Library and the Courtyard. The visit highlights PKU Law School’s ongoing efforts in international engagement, and the School will continue to expand global partnerships with leading academic institutions and international organizations.

Translated by: Song Zimeng

Edited by: Zhang Wenyi