On 16 September, President Chu Beiping led a delegation to the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA), where they were received by LMAA President Jonathan Elvey, former President Ian Gaunt, and Honorary Secretary Gerard Hopkins.
President Chu reviewed the university’s longstanding cooperation with the LMAA, outlined the ongoing revisions to China’s Maritime Code and Arbitration Law, and highlighted the university’s distinctive strengths in maritime-law teaching and research. He underscored the university’s commitment to innovation in maritime arbitration rules—across research and practice—and expressed interest in expanding collaboration with the LMAA. Mr. Elvey and fellow arbitrators reflected on past joint initiatives with the university, commended the development of the Shanghai International Shipping Center, and conveyed strong confidence in future cooperation. Both sides held in-depth discussions and reached broad agreement on reciprocal visits, co-hosting maritime arbitration forums and conferences, inviting LMAA experts to teach on campus, and jointly organizing an invitational maritime arbitration moot.
The delegation also visited Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP and Raymond Law Firm, holding substantive discussions with partners Mark Sachs and Xu Mingrui on expert lectures, student internships, and practice placements. Han Wenhao of Spencer West accompanied the visits.
With the LMAA and a concentration of specialist maritime law firms, London offers a mature ecosystem for maritime dispute resolution. The university has notable strengths in the research and practice of ad hoc maritime arbitration. Benchmarking against London will support the further rollout of ad hoc arbitration in Shanghai, enhance the soft power of the Shanghai as International Shipping Center, and strengthen China’s voice and influence in international maritime and commercial dispute resolution.
The delegation also visited Swansea University and Cardiff University to advance legal education initiatives, Belt and Road talent-development programs, and a range of international exchange projects.
Leaders from the International Office, the Merchant Marine College, and the School of Law accompanied the visit.
