The 5th Guangzhou Maritime Law Forum–Discussion on Nanshan Guangzhou Deepening the Comprehensive Cooperation among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao for the World and Theory & Practice of Maritime Law was held solemnly in Guangzhou Maritime Court on April 22, 2023.

This Forum was instructed by the International Maritime Law (Guangzhou) Base of the Fourth Court of Civil Trial of the Supreme People’s Court, supported by Guangzhou Municipal Justice Bureau, organized by Guangzhou International Shipping Judicial Study Center (Guangzhou Maritime Judge Association), Guangzhou Lawyers Association and Maritime Law Professional Committee of Guangzhou Lawyers Association, and co-organized by Maritime Law Institute Guangzhou Branch of Dalian Maritime University (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Maritime Law Institute), etc. The Forum was conducted simultaneously online and offline. The online forum attracted 79,500 visitors in all walks of life from all regions of China. They have greatly improved the publicity and influence of the Maritime Law Forum.

At the opening ceremony, Si Yuzhuo, former President of Dalian Maritime University and advocate of the maritime law discipline in China, was invited to attend the online forum and deliver a speech. Deng Zhongwen, Secretary of the Party Committee, Director and First-class Inspector of Guangzhou Municipal Justice Bureau, appeared on site and addressed a speech on behalf of organizers Guangzhou Maritime Judge Association, Guangzhou Lawyers Association and Maritime Law Professional Committee of Guangzhou Lawyers Association as well as the instructor, the supporter and the co-organizer.

Chen Chao, Party Group Secretary and President of Guangzhou Maritime Court signed a cooperation agreement on site with Guangzhou Municipal Justice Bureau (represented by Director Deng Zhongwen), Nansha District People’s Government of Guangzhou (represented by Deputy District Mayor Pang Bo), Guangzhou Arbitration Commission (represented by Party Group Secretary and President Chen Simin), and Sun Yat-Sen University (represented by Dean Zhang Liang). The authors of the winning papers were presented with awards at the opening ceremony. The ceremony was presided over by Xiao Zhixiong, Party Group Member and Vice President of Guangzhou Maritime Court.

The academic discussion of the Forum focused on two themes which divided the Forum into two halves. The discussion in the first half was about the theme of “Nansha Guangzhou Deepening the Comprehensive Cooperation among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao and New Development of Arbitration for the World” presided over by Ni Xuewei, Secretary General of Guangzhou Maritime Judge Association. Huang Jin, Professor of China University of Political Science and Law and President of Chinese Society of International Law, Yang Liangyi, famous maritime law expert and international commercial arbitrator, Mei Hong, Professor of Ocean University of China Law School and Senior Researcher of Institute of Marine Development of Ocean University of China–a key research base of the Ministry of Education, and Li Ke, Senior Supervisor of Faculty of Law of the University of Macao and Researcher of Constitution and Basic Law Research Center shared online the abundant research findings on law theory integrated with the innovation of the rule of law, including “persist in promoting domestic and foreign affairs-concerning rule of law as a whole and promote high-level opening-up on the track of the rule of law”, “function and value of maritime arbitration as Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area construction service”, “dilemma of environmental justice of coastal zone and its solution”, and “status quo of maritime law in Macao SAR”, etc.; Guo Ping, Professor and Doctoral Supervisor of Sun Yat-Sen University School of Law and Zhang Min, Director and Professor of the Maritime Law Research Center of Guangzhou Maritime University delivered the in-depth and splendid speeches on the spot, which were of great value to cutting-edge research in maritime law, including “reflections on the international law issues involved in the offshore disposal of nuclear waste” and “construction of rules for digital bill of lading guided by shipping technologies”.

The second half of the academic discussion was on “revision of maritime law and procedure and practice of maritime law”, presided over by lawyer Huang Hui, Director of the Professional Committee of Maritime and Aviation Law of Guangzhou Lawyers Association. Lawyer Xu Guangyu, Director of Guang Yu & Co., Tan Xuewen, Senior Judge of the Fourth Grade of Guangzhou Maritime Court, lawyer Chen Leiming, Senior Partner of Kangda (Guangzhou) Law Firm, Wu Guining, Director of the Enforcement Bureau of Guangzhou Maritime Law, lawyer Xie Ming, Partner of ETR Law Firm, Miss Tang Jiawei, Case Handler of CMAC South China Sub-commission, and lawyer Duan Tingwu, Deputy Director of Yang & Lin Co. Law Firm conducted an in-depth discussion on the 7 themes including “study on the necessity for maritime court to hear maritime crimes”, “impact of unmanned ship on the legal procedural system of ship collision and its countermeasures”, “theory and practice of natural disasters and offshore risks”, “application of big data intelligent appraisal system for ships auctioned online to maritime justice”, “arbitrability for crew dispute”, “thoughts on balancing maritime legislation and justice and protecting the interests of Chinese cargo owners”, and “several legal and practical issues on salvage”.