University of Helsinki
The sixth annual Sino-Finnish Seminar on Comparative Law once again proved to be a great success, with Chinese and Finnish scholars coming together to discuss pressing legal issues, relevant not only to the Finnish and Chinese domestic systems, but also globally. This year the seminar was hosted by the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Turku, Professor Jukka Mähönen, who conveyed to all participants his pleasure with the outcomes of the seminar.
An important topic of this year’s conference was the role and place of courts in society. Under scrutiny was their impact within the legal system vis-à-vis other organs exercising state authority, and the challenges courts and judges face in an increasingly digitalized world. The effects of globalization on labour relations and employee participation, as well as taxation and monetary impacts of European integration, were also discussed.
The seminar benefited from an open atmosphere of exchange, allowing high-quality academic comparison of legal issues. Finnish and Chinese scholars valued the opportunity to come together in order to further discuss legal areas of concern and develop ideas. At the same time, Finnish and Chinese circumstances have points of difference and scholars noted that cultural context was important to take into account when looking at the particularities of legal ideas and models between countries. Based on the lively discussions which followed insightful presentations, participants conveyed their anticipation for ongoing and deepening exchange and comparative law analysis.
In their closing words, Finnish China Law Center partner institution’s representatives reflected upon the depth that the Sino-Finnish collaboration has reached over the six years, and discussed prospects for its future growth. Professor Li Lin, Director of the Institute of Law in CASS, Professor Juha Karhu, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Lapland and Professor Kimmo Nuotio, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Helsinki, acknowledged the sincerity and seriousness of the commitment of all involved throughout the years, which made possible such an extensive collaboration going beyond the organization of the bilateral seminar. It was noted that CASS and Finnish Universities are currently carrying out jointly several research projects on important issues such as employee participation, intellectual property, the arctic question, and environmental and gender issues.
Seminar organizers also noted that other tangible outcomes of this collaboration include publications based on the annual seminars. Indeed, this collaboration resulted in the proud presentation in Turku of Safeguarding Human Rights and Constructing the Rule of Law: A Comparison between China and Finland, the third collection of papers given previously at annual seminars.
The Sino-Finnish collaboration has grown from strength to strength through common efforts and shared goals. This is demonstrated by the very existence of the Finnish China Law Center and its active participation in organizing this seminar. Professor Ulla Liukkunen, Director of the Center, underlined the importance of such platforms for comparative exchange. Professor Katja Lindroos, representing the University of Eastern Finland, agreed and looks forward to contribute in the advancement of such unique exchange. Professor Ye Jingyi of Peking University’s involvement in the seminar was also highly valued, and further illustrated the importance of this Sino-Finnish collaboration.
The closing panel unanimously agreed that the seminar in Turku had further deepened the comparative law aspects of the collaboration. As the seminar outcomes were of such significance, the announcement was made that the presentations will be adapted into chapters which shall be published as a book. This book, conference collaborators announced, would be presented next year at the 7th Sino-Finnish Seminar on Comparative Law to be held at CASS in Beijing.
The account of the seminar and Director Li Lin visit to Finland is available in Chinese on CASS, Institute of Law website.