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Senior judges from China visit Sydney to discuss future collaborations

16 May 2017

Senior judges from the Supreme People's Court of China visited the University of Sydney this week for discussions about potential collaborations in exchange, training and information sharing.

Photo (from left): Ms Li Wenwen, Official of the International Cooperation Department, Supreme People’s Court; Ms Jules Mortenson, Manager, Executive Support, High Court of Australia; Ms Ma Xinlan, President, High Court of Fujian Province, Second Rank Justice; Mr Andrew Phelan, Chief Executive and Principal Registrar, High Court of Australia; Professor Stephen Garton, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Sydney; The Hon Shen Deyong, Executive Vice President, Supreme People’s Court, First Rank Justice; Ms Ge Xiaoyan, President, High Court of Jiangxi Province, Second Rank Justice; Professor Vivienne Bath, Sydney Law School, University of Sydney; Mr Wang Tao, Judge, Supreme People’s Court; Professor Bing Ling, Sydney Law School, University of Sydney; Mr Hai Wei, Judge, Supreme People’s Court

The meetings – with Provost Professor Stephen Garton and academics from Sydney Law School – were part of a four-day visit to Australia led by The Hon Shen Deyong, executive vice-president of the Supreme People’s Court and a frequent commentator on judicial reform in China.

Accompanied by two senior High Court judges and two judges from the Supreme People’s Court, the group met with senior figures from the Australian judicial system including Chief Justice Susan Kiefel, Justice of the High Court Virginia Bell, and Chief Executive of the High Court Andrew Phelan.

Associate Dean (International) and Professor of Chinese Law at Sydney Law School Bing Ling said the visit was a significant honour for the University, and an opportunity to talk about future opportunities for collaboration.

"The visit also highlighted that although we have close economic and cultural links with China, there is a pressing need for us to know about the significant legal and judicial reforms that are taking place there," Professor Ling said.

Professor of Chinese and International Business Law at Sydney Law School Vivienne Bath was also invovled in the discussions.