On 24 May 2019, twelve PhD researchers from ten different European and international universities met in Hamburg and presented their current research on developments in Chinese Law. The workshop on “Recent Developments in Chinese Law”, which took place in Warburg-Haus in Hamburg, was the first PhD workshop on Chinese law organised by the China-EU School of Law (CESL) Consortium Office at Universität Hamburg. Initiated by the EU and China, CESL brings together legal researchers and experts from China, Europe and other parts of the world and functions as a platform for China-EU legal exchange.

The PhD workshop aimed to offer doctoral students, focusing on current legal changes in China in a comparative legal context with a focus on the EU, an opportunity to discuss, develop and share ideas, as well as to gain perspectives in relation to their doctoral research. Prof. Hinrich Julius, Project Coordinator of CESL and professor at the Law Faculty of Universität Hamburg opened and moderated the workshop. The presentations covered many different topical subjects such as “Law and Technology”, “Sustainable Development and Public Procurement”, “Law in a Changing World Trade” and “Law Reforms for China’s Future”, followed by lively discussions among presenters and workshop participants. Overall, the workshop was a great success and CESL already plans to organise a similar event again next year.