BUCT delegate from the Department of Law won the third prize in the first FDI Moot Shenzhen English Competition. It is marvelous achievement after the law discipline of SHL being granted the first-class law major in Beijing. The aim of participating in the competition was to strengthen the “San Quan” education, build a first-class undergraduate education, broaden students’ vision and cultivate students’ international competition ability.

As a significant event in the field of international investment law, FDI Moot Shenzhen was held at the headquarters of Shenzhen International Arbitration Court from October 16 to 18, 2020. This is the first time that FDI Moot (international simulated investment arbitration competition) has been introduced into China. FDI Moot applies, in simulations, the rules and procedures of ISCID of the World Bank, or other international arbitration institutions to solve investment disputes between investors and hosts. English is the official language of the competition, which involves legal issues such as investment transfer, state responsibility and avoidance of arbitrators. The participating teams act as the applicant and the respondent of arbitration, submit pleadings and conduct oral court debate according to the simulated case.

The event invited prestigious experts and scholars in the field of global investment arbitration as arbitrators, such as Mark Feldman, a professor of international law, and Professor Guohua Yang, Vice Chairman of the Society of World Trade Organization Law, China Law Society. The competition was organized by three major international organizations: ICSID, UNCITRAL RCAP and ICC Court. It was supported by seven renowned arbitration institutions from different continents, with four of them listed below: HKIAC, SIAC, JAMS and Society of World Trade Organization Law, China Law Society.

There were 29 delegates consisting of nearly 200 students from Peking University, Tsinghua University, Renmin University of China, China University of Political Science and Law, University of International Business and Economics, BUCT and other universities. The BUCT team consists of eight excellent students, undergraduate and graduate students included, with Associate Professor Huimiao Zhao as the instructor. Yanchao Wang, a 2016 undergraduate, Ying Tang and Simin Yu, both 2017 undergraduates, served as debaters. Hao Qian and Mingyang Zhao, both 2016 undergraduates, Qinxin Liu, a 2019 graduate, and Li Jiamin and Liao Huijiao, both 2020 graduates, served as investigators.

Under the dedicated guidance of Prof. Huimiao Zhao and the joint efforts of team members, BUCT team overcame a series of difficulties such as short preparation time and insufficient competition experience, and went all out to prepare for the competition. Prof. Zhao has formulated detailed training plans and training items for the competition. Team members’ legal research skills and speculative ability, organized simulated confrontation training have been practiced for many times, with court-debating skills being polished and improved many times as well.

      In the points competition, BUCT team played against team A of Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, and team A of Sino-Europe Law School from China University of Political Science and Law. BUCT team members responded in an orderly and calm manner in the court debate. With excellent skills and adaptability, BUCT contestants won unanimous praise of the arbitration tribunal and fully demonstrated the mien of BUCT law students.

In the end, BUCT delegate won the third prize after unyielding efforts, and Yanchao Wang won the title of “Excellent Debater”. With professionalism in law, excellent English, outstanding forensic skills, perseverance, hard work and focused and rigorous style, BUCT delegate presented the satisfactory outcome.

(Contributed by Tang Ying, a 2017 undergraduate)