The Institute for International Law and Public Policy of Temple University Beasley School of Law, in cooperation of the Chinese Society of Private International Law, will host a US-China Private International Law Roundtable in the summer 2005 at Temple University Beasley School of Law in Philadelphia. The Roundtable is scheduled to take place from July 5 to July 29, 2005.

       The Roundtable is particularly timely given ongoing efforts to pass conflict of laws/private international law legislation in China, which are part of a larger project to replace the “General Principles of Civil Law” that are currently in effect. The Roundtable will focus on private international law issues that arise in international civil cases, with particular focus on, inter alia, recent developments in choice of law theories and approaches in the United States; the basic framework of choice of law rules in China; special challenges facing choice of law on the Internet; international efforts to codify choice of law and other private international law rules; cross-border discovery issues; jurisdictional issues in transnational cases; and international judicial assistance.

       As part of the Roundtable, the Institute for International Law and Public Policy will invite eight to ten leading Chinese scholars, judges and government officials to spend a month at Temple’s Philadelphia campus to conduct research on private international law topics.  During this month, the Institute will sponsor a series of lectures and presentations.  Leading U.S. scholars, including Temple Law Professors Laura Little, Richard Greenstein and William Woodward, will give lectures to the Roundtable participants and join the discussions. In addition, the Institute will invite leading U.S. scholars and practitioners to discuss how private international law matters are handled in the US courts in international cases.  During the last week of the Roundtable, all Chinese participants will present their research-in-progress to a group of leading U.S. scholars and practitioners. The papers produced by the Chinese participants in connection with the Roundtable will be published in the Chinese Yearbook of Private International Law sponsored by the Chinese Society of Private International Law.    

       Tentative Roundtable Schedule

       June 30:       Chinese Scholars arrive

       July 5:            Commencement of the Roundtable

       Week 1:       Lectures by American scholars

       Week 2:       Lectures by American scholars and practitioners; group discussions

       Week 3:        Workshop discussions of specific private international law issues

       Week 4:       Presentations by Chinese participants

       July 29:       Roundtable concludes