Foreign-linked legal services to get a boost

China is set to review a draft amendment to the lawyers law to strengthen its foreign-related legal services and improve the training of lawyers specializing in international legal affairs as part of the nation's efforts to promote greater openness, a spokesperson said on Friday.

Speaking at a news conference, Huang Haihua, spokesman for the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, noted that lawyers play a key role in building a country governed by the rule of law, and a legislative item is specifically focused on the profession to strengthen the education and development of legal talent.

"Lawyers are essential for establishing a state governed by the socialist rule of law, and they play a vital role in advancing law-based governance," he said.

To modernize China's legal system and support the development of legal talent, the proposed changes to the lawyers law include provisions on foreign-related legal services.

Huang said the draft amendment, which will be reviewed by the NPC Standing Committee next week, encourages law firms to improve the quality of their services and professional skills of their employees.

The draft also encourages lawyers to engage in international exchanges and cooperation, helping protect litigants' legitimate rights and promote high-quality development, he added.

Under the proposed changes, legal professionals from the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, who have cleared the bar exam for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and obtained Chinese mainland credentials, would be permitted to provide legal services in nine mainland cities — Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Hui­zhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing, all in Guangdong province.

Xiao Shengfang, deputy head of the All China Lawyers Association, emphasized the importance of lawyers in supporting China's strategy of high-level opening-up, noting that demand for foreign-related legal services is increasing as more and more Chinese companies expand their businesses overseas.

Strengthening such services is essential for managing cross-border trade, protecting overseas interests and aligning with global standards, Xiao said. "It is also significant for attracting foreign investment and creating a top-tier business environment that is based on the rule of law and is both open and market-friendly," he added.

Xiao expressed his support for the inclusive provisions in the draft amendment for Hong Kong and Macao legal professionals, saying that a pilot program has already enriched legal services in areas such as cross-border investment, commercial dispute resolution and compliance with foreign laws.

According to a report released in June, since the pilot program was authorized by the NPC Standing Committee in August 2020, more than 600 legal professionals from Hong Kong and Macao have worked as attorneys in the nine Guangdong cities.

In addition to the draft amendment to the lawyers law, the NPC Standing Committee will also review a draft law on combating cross-border corruption and a draft amendment to the road traffic safety law during its upcoming session, which is scheduled in Beijing from Tuesday to Friday.

Lawmakers also plan to discuss draft laws on healthcare security and farmland protection and quality improvement, as well as deliberate on proposed revisions to the Agriculture Law and the Enterprise Bankruptcy Law.

caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn