On July 29, 2019, the three-week fifth Training Session of China-Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO) Exchange and Research Program on International Law (CAERP) was started in Beijing. On July 30, Director-General of the Department of Treaty and Law of the Foreign Ministry Jia Guide, attended and addressed the welcome reception of the training session. AALCO Sectary-General Kennedy Gastorn attended the session.

Jia Guide welcomed legal officers from Asian and African countries to the training session in China. Jia Guide said, China has always attached importance to exchanges and cooperation in international law with Asian and African countries. By setting up the CAERP and holding international law training sessions, seminars and other activities under the CAERP framework, the Chinese side has made contributions to the cooperation between Asian and African countries in international law in a practical way.

Jia Guide noted, the world today is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century. Asian and African countries face the severe challenges brought by unilateralism and protectionism but the historical opportunity as well of promoting to establish a fairer and more reasonable international order. The Chinese side hopes the training session will help Asian and African countries consolidate their faith in international law, jointly improve the capacity building in international law, and better safeguard the common interests, so that we can join hands to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

Kennedy Gastorn spoke highly of China's contributions to promoting exchanges and cooperation in international law among Asian and African countries. He thanked the Chinese government for its support for the work of the AALCO and said, the AALCO will continue its support to the relevant activities and enhance the solidarity and cooperation among Asian and African countries. On behalf of the participants in the session, Additional Solicitor General of Sri Lanka Sithy Wajiha Farzana Jameel made an acknowledgement speech. She said that the session met the needs of developing countries and offered an international perspective. She expressed her appreciation to the organizers for providing this opportunity for learning and exchanges.

Announced by President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang in 2015, the CAERP aims to carry forward the spirit of the Bandung Conference and enhance exchanges and cooperation in international law among Asian and African countries. Since the inception of the program, China has held annual training sessions of international law under the program and altogether has provided training for more than 200 legal officers from 40 plus Asian and African countries. This session focuses on peaceful settlement of international disputes. Judges of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and experts in dispute settlement mechanism in areas including trade and investment will give lectures. In addition, the participants will also visit Beijing, Tianjin and other places.