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United Nations - Office of Legal Affairs
Activities of the Legal Counsel of the United Nations

Visit by the Legal Counsel to Beijing, People's Republic of China, from 26 to 29 May 2014.

At the invitation of the Government of the People's Republic of China, Mr. Serpa Soares visited Beijing from 26 to 29 May 2014.  

Arrival in Beijing, 26 May 2014

Upon his arrival in Beijing on 26 May, Mr. Serpa Soares was received by Mr. LIU Zhenmin, the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Serpa Soares meets with Mr. LIU Zhenmin, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
Mr. Serpa Soares meets with Mr. LIU Zhenmin, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China

Mr. LIU noted that as a permanent member of the Security Council China has a special position in the United Nations. This position naturally entails special responsibilities. China strives to have a stronger position and to express itself with a more forceful voice in matters relating to international law. Mr. Serpa Soares welcomed this very much and assured Mr. LIU that the Office of Legal Affairs would be prepared to engage in a dialogue with China on current questions of international law.


International colloquium to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence, 27 May 2014

On 27 May, Mr. Serpa Soares participated in an international colloquium to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence, jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Society of International Law. He delivered an opening address and chaired a panel on the "Contribution of the Five Principles to the Peaceful Co-existence for the Development of International Law".

Mr. Serpa Soares addresses the colloquium
Mr. Serpa Soares addresses the colloquium

In his opening remarks, Mr. Serpa Soares first traced the impact of the Five Principles on international law and international relations and the connection between the Five Principles and the principles and purposes enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. He then addressed more broadly the role of first-order principles in formulating answers to complex international legal questions. Finally, he examined how the current international environment, with all the challenges and opportunities that it presents, can lead those of us who operate within it to both question and confirm our principles

In his role as chair of the panel, Mr. Serpa Soares made an opening statement tracing the history of the Five Principles.

Beijing University, 28 May 2014

On 28 May, Mr. Serpa Soares visited Beijing University, China's leading academic institution, where he was received by Professor YU Hongjun, the Vice Principal, and had lunch with members of the university leadership and the law faculty.

Mr. Serpa Soares gives an interview in the margins of his visit to Beijing
Mr. Serpa Soares gives an interview in the margins of his visit to Beijing

In his lecture to the students and faculty of Beijing University, Mr. Serpa Soares spoke about the relevance of international law for China, in particular in the context of the United Nations, the role of the Office of Legal Affairs, and a range of current topical legal issues such as international criminal justice and legal aspects of modern peacekeeping .