When 147 Law Students Meet China’s Legal World

The Benelux Chamber of Commerce and Fudan University organized an extensive program for 147 law students from KU Leuven, part of their partnership with Fudan Unversity Law School for the China Law Summer Program.

The program attracted record interest from KU Leuven students. The university received more applications than ever before and had to reject many candidates due to space limitations. The visiting students came from Belgium's top-ranked law faculty, which holds the number one position in the European Union for legal studies.

Academic Seminar at Fudan University

The main academic event coordinated by the Chamber was held at Fudan University Law School, where Philippe Snel, Managing Director at DaWo Law Firm Shanghai, delivered a seminar titled "The Sun Still Rises in the East." A KU Leuven graduate with more than 20 years of legal practice in China, he shared practical insights into Chinese business law with the students.

To complement his presentation, the Chamber invited Belgian business leaders in Shanghai to join the discussion. Jan Van der Borght from the Port of Antwerp/Bruges spoke about trade connections between Belgium and China. Bert Ghys, Associate Director at K&H International, shared perspectives on international business development. Laurent Colanbeen from Euroports explained global logistics operations, while Dieter Verstreken, VP China at Melexis, discussed technology company operations in China. Charlotte Vanassche, General Manager at PR Living, provided insights on supporting international professionals in Shanghai.

Prof. Dr. Lihong Zhang and Weirui Zhu from Fudan University contributed academic perspectives, while students engaged actively with questions on China’s business environment and legal framework.

High-Level Reception at Belgian Consulate

The Chamber organized a reception at the Belgian Consulate General featuring Mr. Zhou Hanmin, Standing Committee Member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and President of the Shanghai Public Diplomacy Association. Mr. Zhou addressed the students in his capacity as a law professor, discussing Shanghai's development as a financial center and its progress in artificial intelligence.

H.E. Consul General of the Kingdom of Belgium Pascal Buffin thanked the Chamber and Fudan Law School for their support in organizing the program. The reception brought together approximately 200 attendees, including Shanghai university representatives and Belgian students currently studying in Shanghai.

Rural Governance and Development Visits

Fudan University arranged field visits to Chongming District to show students China's rural development initiatives. At Xianqiao Village, a national rural governance demonstration site, students learned about community management innovations. The village features a 30-meter family motto wall and operates under community guidelines that residents call "eight dos and eight dont's."

Students visited the "Junying Rural Town," converted from the old village committee building, which now houses boutique accommodations and traditional handicraft displays. The facility provides employment opportunities for local residents.

At Chunfeng Village, students observed specialized agriculture focused on shaped boxwood trees. The village has over 25,000 trees that are more than 10 years old, representing a significant economic development for the community. About half of the village's 1,200 households participate in boxwood cultivation.

In Dachun Village, students saw elderly care innovations, including day care services, dementia-friendly facilities, and AI-powered traditional Chinese medicine diagnostics. The village also hosts Shanghai's first rural charity cultural space, which combines charitable activities with community services.

Student Emily noted her changed perceptions: "I previously thought Chinese rural areas were very backward and run-down. But after this experience, I found that Chongming's natural environment is excellent, with fresh air, clean and modern villages, and beautiful buildings everywhere."

Shanghai People's Congress Visit

The Chamber facilitated a visit to the Shanghai People's Congress, where students met with Chen Jing, Vice Chairman of the Shanghai People's Congress Standing Committee. Students asked questions about inter-provincial cooperation, governance structures, demographic challenges, unemployment issues, and artificial intelligence's impact on employment.

Students were particularly interested in learning about Shanghai's 5,700 People's Congress representative liaison points, which serve as channels for public input and problem-solving. Emily described this number as "amazing," reflecting the scale of civic engagement in Shanghai.

Historical and Legal System Education

The program included a visit to the Site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China on Xingye Road. Students viewed historical documents, including the first Chinese translation of "The Communist Manifesto," and learned about China's legal development from revolutionary periods to current comprehensive rule of law initiatives.

Students also visited Xujiahui District Court and the Shanghai International Arbitration Center to observe China's legal system operations. These visits provided practical insights into how Chinese courts and arbitration mechanisms function.

Corporate Visits

Beyond the legal and diplomatic dimension, The Chamber coordinated  exclusive company visits at Volvo and Philips.  

The Volvo Car Asia Pacific Headquarters visit on September 19th was particularly comprehensive. Hosted at Volvo's facility on Lvyi Road in Jiading District, the program welcomed 55 second-year KU Leuven students along with Belgian Consul General Pascal Buffin and Chamber representatives. Geert Bruyneel, Senior Advisor of Volvo Cars, opened the session, followed by presentations from Per Edberg, Head of Engineering China, and Fredrik Boman, Head of Vehicle Platform R&D, on "Innovation for safety and sustainability."

The students engaged in an active Q&A session that included Yi Chen, Vice President of Legal for Volvo Car Greater China, providing direct insights into legal careers in the automotive industry. The visit concluded with guided tours of the Asia Pacific Headquarters and laboratory facilities, led by Allen Rao, Deputy Head of Safety & Engineering Operations. Students experienced firsthand how innovation and the Chinese market work together in Volvo's regional operations.

At Philips, board member Hansje van der Noort, together with her team, hosted an interactive session where students could actively exchange ideas. They explored what it takes to succeed as a company lawyer in China, the differences between in-house roles and law firms, the realities of cross-border teamwork in a multinational, and the importance of compliance law, before concluding with a tour of Philips’ cutting-edge R&D center.
 

Both visits showed students how European companies adapt to the Chinese market while contributing to local innovation and development. These activities, made possible thanks to the generous support of our members and partners, ensure that KU Leuven students not only deepen their understanding of Chinese law through Fudan’s Summer School Program but also gain a real-world perspective on doing business and building careers in China.

Program Results

KU Leuven Law Faculty Vice Dean Wouter Druwé commented on the program's success: "We have never received so many applications. We felt Shanghai's vitality. We met authoritative Chinese legal scholars and heard them teach Chinese law courses. The students really enjoyed all the field investigation activities."

Students consistently noted that they experienced what they called "a three-dimensional China" that differed significantly from their previous understanding based on European media coverage. The program provided them with direct exposure to China's governance systems, economic development models, and legal frameworks.

The comprehensive nature of the program required coordination across multiple sectors, including universities, government offices, courts, companies, rural communities, and diplomatic missions. This coordination demonstrates the Chamber's capability to facilitate complex educational exchanges that provide substantial value to participants.

The Chamber plans to continue this partnership with KU Leuven and Fudan University. The strong interest from students and positive feedback from faculty indicate the program addresses important educational needs for future legal professionals who will work in an increasingly connected global environment. 

The Benelux Chamber of Commerce is proud to play a part in connecting the next generation of Belgian legal professionals with Shanghai’s vibrant business and legal community. Therefore, as once before, we would like to thank all people, organizations, partners, sponsors, and universities who worked by our side to make this extensive program even more than successful.