The 2024 Tsinghua-UNSW Joint Research Centre for International Commercial and Economic Law (JCICEL) Conference took place on 18 November 2024 at the UNSW Kensington Campus, bringing together esteemed scholars from Tsinghua University and UNSW to discuss ' Digitalisation, Sustainability and Law’.
The conference commenced with opening remarks by Vice Dean of Tsinghua Law School Associate Professor Jun Long, and CIBEL Co-Director Associate Professor Weihuan Zhou. The first session, titled ‘Law and Digital Economy’ focused on the legal challenges and opportunities presented by the digital economy. Professor Guobin Cui ( Tsinghua Law School) discussed the fair use of copyrighted works in AI training, highlighting the balance between innovation and copyright protection. Associate Professor Alexandra George (UNSW) examined intellectual property protection for generative AI products, questioning the adequacy of current laws. Associate Professor Matteo Solinas (UNSW) explored the complexities of crypto lending and the legal uncertainties surrounding it. This session was chaired by CIBEL member Dr Anton Didenko, who facilitated a lively discussion among the speakers and attendees.
The second session, ‘Commercial Law and Digitalisation’, explored the evolving landscape of commercial law in the context of digitalisation. Professor Xin Tang ( Tsinghua Law School) presented a comparative perspective on shadow directors and controlling shareholders. Associate Professor Simin Gao (Tsinghua) discussed the substantive consolidation of corporate groups in China. Dr Anton Didenko (UNSW) introduced the concept of a regulatory sandbox for financial market infrastructures in Australia. Chaired by Associate Professor Weihuan Zhou (UNSW), this session provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities within commercial law.
After a lunch break, the conference resumed with a session on ‘Law and Sustainability’. Associate Professor Haifeng Deng (Tsinghua), participating online, discussed the revision of China's Renewable Energy Law. Associate Professor Marina Nehme (UNSW) highlighted the role of Indigenous communities in Australia's renewable energy industries. Dr Xue Bai (UNSW) examined the intersection of competition law and sustainability in China. CIBEL member Professor Cameron Holley chaired the session, guiding the discussion on how legal frameworks can support sustainable development.
The final session of the day, ‘International Law and China’, addressed international law with a focus on China. Assistant Professor Mujun Zhang (Tsinghua) spoke on the dilemmas and future of international taxation. Associate Professor Jonathan Bonnitcha (UNSW) provided a comparative perspective on China's approach to investment dispute prevention. Associate Professor Kun Fan (UNSW) discussed dispute resolution within the Belt and Road Initiative. Chaired by Professor Guobin Cui from Tsinghua, this session offered a comprehensive view of China's role in shaping international legal norms.
The conference concluded with closing remarks, reflecting on the day's discussions and emphasising the importance of continued collaboration between Tsinghua and UNSW in addressing global legal challenges. The 2024 JCICEL Conference successfully highlighted the critical intersections of digitalisation, sustainability, and law, fostering a rich exchange of ideas and paving the way for future research and policy development.