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为“一带一路”建设保驾护航——访中国中小企业协会“一带一路”工作委员会法律服务部部长姚惠娟律师

2018-11-20 15:18:37 赵伟主编 中国律师年鉴网

为“一带一路”建设保驾护航

——访中国中小企业协会“一带一路”工作委员会

法律服务部部长姚惠娟律师

编者按

2013年9月和10月,国家主席习近平在出访中亚和东南亚国家期间,先后提出共建“丝绸之路经济带”和“21世纪海上丝绸之路”的重大倡议,得到国际社会高度关注和响应。2015年3月28日,国家发展改革委、外交部、商务部联合发布《推动共建丝绸之路经济带和21世纪海上丝绸之路的愿景与行动》(简称:“一带一路”)。该文件指出:“一带一路”将充分依靠中国与有关国家既有的双多边机制,借助既有的、行之有效的区域合作平台,高举和平发展的旗帜,积极发展与沿线国家的经济合作伙伴关系,共同打造政治互信、经济融合、文化包容的利益共同体、命运共同体和责任共同体。笔者以为,这是国家级的顶层设计,对于世界经济的发展意义重大而深远。

2017年5月4日,中国国家安全部与20多个国家安全部门“一带一路”安全合作对话会在北京举行,会上,中共中央政治局委员、中央政法委书记孟建柱指出:只有安全稳定的环境,才能推动“一带一路”建设更快向前迈进。笔者以为,这里的环境当然包括“一带一路”沿线国家的法治环境。

2018年7月25日,在“一带一路”倡议提出5周年之际,由中国中小企业协会“一带一路”工作委员成立的“法律服务部”任命了一位在涉外法律领域执着坚守30多个春秋,且仍服务于一线的涉外律师担任该法律服务部的负责人,她就是本文的主人公——北京市东元律师事务所创始合伙人、西安分所主任姚惠娟律师。中国中小企业协会“一带一路”工作委员会法律服务部为何会任命一位专职律师担任该部的负责人?笔者以为,这应该是姚惠娟律师在涉外法律领域丰富的经验,骄人的业绩和丰硕的成果,以及已步入天命之年仍坚持在一线办案的精神得到了委员会的一致青睐和高度认可。今天就让笔者带领大家一起来进一步认识这位被媒体誉为“国际舞台上连接中西方文化交流的铿锵玫瑰”的中国女律师吧。

与国际法律事务结缘

姚惠娟律师与国际法律事务的肇始和渊源,还要追朔到上世纪的80年代。姚惠娟律师于1984年开始从事律师工作,参加工作不久即被司法部选定(西安市仅一个名额)到上海参加国际律师培训,成为了中国第一批涉外经济律师;她于1986年参加首届全国律师资格统一考试,成绩位居西安榜首;1988年参与组建西安市涉外经济律师事务所,全面负责外贸公司业务,并参与了在陕的9大进出口公司中,6家公司的法律事务;她曾被聘任为联合国艺术家理事会法律顾问,获得“联合国国际友好使者”称号,接受联合国前秘书长潘基文、美国前总统克林顿等的亲切接见;美国历史上著名的第一位华人女议员赵美心、著名的社会活动家华侨陈香梅也与她进行了亲切的交流。所以,媒体评价她为“国际舞台上连接中西方文化交流的铿锵玫瑰”。除此,姚惠娟律师现还担任着中华全国律师协会企业法律顾问专业委员会委员、中国侨联法律顾问委员会委员、中国音乐学院名誉院长金铁霖法律顾问、南京仲裁委仲裁员、西安仲裁委仲裁员、榆林仲裁委仲裁员等。《中国当代优秀律师》这样评价姚惠娟律师:“她是一位在中国律师发展史上、在世界的舞台上书写着不凡与传奇的中国女律师”。

作为中国第一批涉外律师,姚惠娟律师在上世纪八九十年代就参与了各类国际诉讼和仲裁案件,代表中国企业迈向世界舞台,维护企业权益,帮助中国企业在国际市场上平等参与竞争。我们从近年姚惠娟律师参与的部分国际项目或诉讼仲裁案件中即可见一斑。

2009年12月至2014年3月,姚惠娟律师与郭阳等律师作为酒钢钢铁(集团)有限责任公司的代理人,办理某公司与酒钢集团国际钢材买卖合同国际仲裁案,在面对某公司聘请的法国、德国律师团队时,她与郭阳律师在事实的细致分析、证据的合理运用、法律的正确使用下,全面维护了酒钢钢铁的合法利益。除此之外,姚惠娟律师代理的海事货物纠纷、国际贸易货物品质纠纷等均维护了委托方的最大合法利益。

2017年,租赁界“航母”——工银金融租赁有限公司(工银金融租赁有限公司成立于2007年11月28日,是国务院确定试点并首家获中国银监会批准开业的银行系金融租赁公司,是中国工商银行的全资子公司,注册资本110亿元人民币)发布法律顾问服务招标公告,数十家律所前往,有着30多年企业法律顾问实务经验,并始终坚守在一线办案的姚惠娟律师获得公司高层高度重视,最终成功入驻企业律师库。后作为代理人办理有关案件,取得满意成果。

2018年7月25日,被中国中小企业协会“一带一路”工作委员任命为法律服务部部长实属众望所归人心所向,当然,姚惠娟律师感到肩上的担子更重,责任也更大了,她不能辜负这份信赖和重托。

据美国《财富》杂志报道,美国中小企业平均寿命不到7年,大企业平均寿命不足40年。而中国,中小企业的平均寿命仅2.5年,集团企业的平均寿命仅7-8年。美国每年倒闭的企业约10万家,而中国有100万家,是美国的10倍。不仅企业的生命周期短,能做大做强的企业更是廖廖无几。据笔者观察,中国企业尤其是民营企业,其现实情况是因企业经营不善或涉重大诉讼破产,因行政处罚致股价下跌,企业及企业负责人因涉刑事风险而身陷囹圄等等不一而足,而这些归根结底皆是法律问题,皆是没有重视规则的问题。而“一带一路”沿线的国家迄今为止已增至65个,每个国家的政治、经济、文化、法律环境又各有不同,中国中小企业又普遍缺乏参与国际经营和竞争的人才和经验,这就为中国中小企业“走出去”提出了严峻的考验。中国中小企业协会“一带一路”工作委员法律服务部的成立可谓正当其时,亦是顺应时代发展的大势所趋。当然,无论是“引进来”,还是“走出去”,在这场全球经济治理的深度变革与发展中,中国涉外律师都将任重而道远。 

中国侨联法顾委海外律师团与中国中小企业协会“一带一路”工作委员会共同举办国际法律服务交流座谈会

第一排(从左至右):日本TMI律师事务所律师何连明;西班牙德源房产律师事务所律师陈静;加拿大陈维鹃律师事务所律师陈维鹃;德国温氏律师事务所温天敏;新西兰律师奥克兰市政府WHAU地区议会议员、议会副主席朱旭东;墨西哥阚凤芹律师与翻译事务所律师阚凤芹;中国中小企业协会“一带一路”工作委员会法律服务部部长姚惠娟;美国赵联律师事务所律师赵联;葡萄牙PLMJ律师事务所律师林蔓;泰国尼采律师事务所方文川夫人章红媛;美国黄笑生国际律师行律师黄笑生

第二排(从左至右):中国中小企业协会“一带一路”工作委员会秘书长吴宏宇;中国中小企业协会“一带一路”工作委员会主任商世伟;德国豪埃森律师事务所律师张志远;巴西天宇会计师、律师事务所律师诸诗琦;美国王志东律师事务所律师王志东;法国德恒律师事务所律师石仁林;南非孙氏律师事务所律师、南非约翰堡市议员、市公共安全局局长孙耀亨;澳大利亚蔡庆伟律师事务所蔡庆伟;马来西亚蔡文洲律师楼律师蔡文洲;香港施若龙律师行律师施若龙;澳大利亚郑玉桂律师事务所律师郑玉桂;美国合众律师事务所律师梁仲平;澳大利亚王柏沂律师事务所律师王柏沂;英国邓汉声律师事务所律师邓汉声;意大利吴恩斌律师事务所律师吴恩斌;泰国尼采律师事务所律师方文川;印尼立诚律师事务所律师张永渊;新加坡正气律师事务所律师萧锦耀;马来西亚罗章武律师事务所律师罗章武;国浩(巴黎)律师事务所孙涛;中国侨联法顾委委员、权益保障部副部长黄晖  

对话中国中小企业协会“一带一路”工作委员会

法律服务部部长姚惠娟律师 

赵伟主编:姚律师您好,2018年是中国改革开放的第40个年头,而作为在涉外法律领域服务已30多个春秋的老一代法律人,您应是最有发言权的涉外律师之一,可否谈谈您对“一带一路”建设中,中国企业参与国际竞争以及国际法律事务的一些看法和想法? 

姚惠娟律师:“好的,我想先就国际贸易中我们企业所面临的困境在此作下总结。要发展就要先将可能面临的困难和风险做下系统性的评估,这样才能做到胸有成竹稳步发展,而不是一拍脑门就做决定,最终造成重大经济损失而无法收场,中国企业在“走出去”的多年中已经交了不少的“学费”,所以我们不能再重蹈覆辙。在“一带一路”发展中,各企业也会不同程度的遇到各种各样的问题。首先是人才匮乏。中小企业普遍缺乏国际化经营人才和经验,在国际市场竞争中往往处于弱势地位,难以有效识别海外各国的法律、政治、经济、社会、环境、安全等方面存在的潜在风险,对沿线国家的行业政策、法律环境、风俗习惯等方面缺乏了解。二是,我国大部分中小企业在全球产业链中,处于价值链的低端,缺乏品牌和国际销售渠道,国际竞争能力弱。中国企业与西方跨国公司相比有明显的“后发劣势”,大部分只能到投资环境差、风险高的国家和行业去寻找机会,有的市场看似空间巨大,实则有效需求不足,盲目进入将带来高风险。三是,我国海外投资起步较晚,企业不熟悉国际市场、缺乏海外投资经验,以及会计、律师、咨询等中介机构发展程度低、风险评估能力弱等问题比较突出。海外国家的政治、经济、社会环境复杂多变,语言文化、商业规则、法律体系、行业标准等与国内截然不同,这就对中国企业的适应能力和管理水平提出了更高的要求。走出去的中国企业还面临着信息不对称、资源碎片化、恶性竞争等问题,既不利于力量整合统筹,也容易造成资源重复浪费。四是,“一带一路”沿线国家和地区的金融环境并不完善,对中国企业的金融支持有限。 

赵伟主编既然中国企业“走出去”有这么多困难和风险,那么我们又该如何应对呢?中国律师或海外律师又该如何为中国企业尤其是中小企业提供法律保障呢? 

姚惠娟律师这就是中国中小企业协会“一带一路”工作委员会成立法律服务部的初衷,我们建立的是一个中外律师合作交流的平台。我们通过建立中外律师交流合作的这个平台,已经达成为中小企业国际法律事务健康发展提供优良服务的共识。同时,我们还积极建立宣传联络平台,通过法律、政治、经济、文化的互相沟通和交流,增加了解和加强国际事务处理的民情基础,形成联动;促进国内、国外律师事务所的密切合作;帮助中国中小企业“走出去”,并帮助海外企业“引进来”;积极发挥法律防范风险的作用,做到预防在前,长期提供所在国的法律服务。争取为国际法律事务的建设及各国海外贸易企业,提供更加优质的法律服务。由于“一带一路”沿线国家和地区法律制度参差多态,法治环境复杂多变,所以“一带一路”建设法律服务不可或缺,或者可以说是刚需。 

赵伟主编近来您参与了哪些与国际法律事务相关的活动,在此可否与我们做下分享? 

姚惠娟律师好的。参加活动很多,我仅就在2018年8月17日至18日,“一带一路”倡议提出五周年,中国侨联法顾委海外律师团成立十周年纪念及中国侨联法顾委海外律师团与中国中小企业协会“一带一路”工作委员会共同举办的国际法律服务交流座谈会作下简要汇总。

会议开幕式上,中国侨联法顾委主任张耕同志回顾了法顾委海外律师团成立的历程,张耕主任表示:经过十年的壮大发展,中国侨联法顾委海外律师团,已成为一道亮丽的海外维权风景线。他希望委员们扬法律之利剑、持正义之天平,积极参与推进中外法律机构交流与合作,切实维护海外侨胞权益,为“一带一路”的顺利实施和帮助更多中国企业“走出去”提供优质的法律支持和服务。

我既是中国中小企业协会“一带一路”工作委员会法律服务部的负责人,同时也是中国侨联法顾委海外律师团成员,是中国侨联法顾委的一位老委员。

8月18日,中国侨联法顾委海外律师团与中国中小企业协会“一带一路”工作委员会就共同举办了国际法律服务交流座谈会。此次座谈会参会海外律师有澳大利亚、德国、法国、英国、俄罗斯、葡萄牙、西班牙、意大利、美国、加拿大、马来西亚、日本、新加坡、印尼、墨西哥、南非、巴西、香港等18个国家和地区的28位海外律师代表。

现也正在准备于2018年12月15日举办“一带一路”优秀法律服务项目颁奖礼暨“一带一路”法律服务高端论坛。该活动由法制日报社主办;法制网和中国中小企业协会“一带一路”工作委员承办。

开展中小企业“一带一路”沿线国家法律风险防范指引系列手册工作,整合多项数据,以市场需求、国际需求、专家建议、国家政策导向为标准,结合法律及我国扶持中小企业发展的专门制度,制作该手册。先期暂时纳入出版的国家如下:新加坡、马来西亚、印度尼西亚、缅甸、泰国、老挝、柬埔寨、越南、文莱和菲律宾,伊朗、阿联酋、卡塔尔、印度、斯里兰卡、哈萨克斯坦、乌兹别克斯坦、塔吉克斯坦、俄罗斯、乌克兰。

就目前的律师队伍而言,缺乏能够为国际法律市场提供服务的律师,为了能够给一带一路沿线企业提供更加专业和精准的法律服务

同时也在考虑,未来要不断地壮大该领域律师团队,与培训机构合作,培养一批能够涉猎国际事物的专业律师。

总之,海外贸易的增加和发展为企业带来了非常广阔的市场空间和发展前景,但机遇总是与风险是并存的,企业在此发展过程中,难免会遇到挫折,遇到风险,而利用法律武器保护自己,防范、控制和杜绝各种法律风险,将成为企业参与其中的必然选择。

中国中小企业协会“一带一路”工作委员会法律服务部现主要承接工委会对外法律事务,与各国律所开展友好合作,共同为中小企业的健康发展保驾护航。 

赵伟主编您对中国中小企业参与“一带一路”建设和参与国际竞争有哪些期待和愿景? 

姚惠娟律师当今世界正发生复杂深刻的变化,国际金融危机深层次影响继续显现,世界经济缓慢复苏、发展分化。在金融危机的严峻情况下,企业资金链断裂等等都严重影响着企业的正常运转。作为中国最具创新精神的群体,中小企业不仅是中国经济社会发展的重要力量,也是“一带一路”沿线建设项目不可或缺的参与者。当前,经济全球化不断深入发展,中小企业日益成为对外合作的一只主力军,是世界各国对外经贸关系中最重要的合作领域之一。也是现在和将来面临全球经济发展一体化最大的受益者和风险承担者,所以法律服务对中小企业参与国际合作的意义就更加突出。

随着“一带一路”建设的不断推进和创新驱动发展的深入实施,鼓励和支持我国中小企业参与“一带一路”建设,将为我国中小企业带来新的发展机遇,中国中小企业将迎来一个大发展的时代,只要我们抓住机遇,并有效把握风险,中国企业将在世界的舞台上开创更广阔的发展空间,我们也将在世界的经济大潮中乘风破浪,直挂云帆,创造更加辉煌灿烂的明天。

附:中国中小企业协会简介

中国中小企业协会于2006年12月11日正式成立,由原国家发展和改革委员会副主任,国务院西部大开发办公室专职副主任李子彬同志担任会长。

协会是由广大中小企业和支持中小企业发展的大企业以及知名专家学者自愿组成的非营利性社会团体。以全心全意为会员及广大中小企业服务为宗旨,努力发挥政府与企业之间的桥梁作用,向国务院建言献策,为中小企业健康发展营造良好的社会环境。支持会员企业不断提高技术创新能力和企业管理水平,走专精特新发展之路。

中国中小企业协会在国家发改委、工信部、民政部及社会各界的支持下,走市场化运作、企业化管理之路,为会员企业在融资、人才培养等方面提供个性化服务,逐步走上社会化、平台化的服务模式,协会的公信力、社会影响力逐步扩大,服务功能不断增强。2009年被民政部评为4A级协会,2013年被工信部评为国家中小企业公共服务示范平台,2014年被民政部评为5A级协会,2015年民政部授予协会全国先进社会组织称号。目前,协会会员总数达到22万家以上。

中国中小企业协会“一带一路”工作委员会是中国中小企业协会(CASME)于2016年1月11日正式设立的专业委员会,2016年4月9日在钓鱼台国宾馆新闻发布会上正式挂牌。中国中小企业协会“一带一路”工作委员会以服务中小企业为宗旨、以合作共赢为理念、以全球合作为路径、以塑造国际行动力和国际合作项目为核心抓手,通过投资建设创新性、科技型和国际合作型产业园区或者与现有园区合作的方式,依托园区打造中小企业产业生态圈和产业集群。“一带一路”工作委员会塑造了综合贸易服务平台、国际产能合作平台、科技成果转化平台、金融服务平台、中外产业园区对接平台和国际文化交流与合作平台,助力中国中小企业和“一带一路”沿线国家的中小企业深度融入“一带一路”建设,积极参与全球资源有效配置和市场高度融合的全球经济一体化进程。

“一带一路”工作委员会在国际上布局四大产业园区。在意大利威尼斯,依托欧盟及意大利的先进设计资源,与威尼斯大学和当地设计专业人士合作成立了世界设计师合作联盟,为“一带一路”建设中的园区、工业产品和企业品牌设计等提供最先进的设计解决方案;在俄罗斯乌里扬诺夫斯克州与俄罗斯联邦政府、乌里扬诺夫斯克州政府和中国大型国有企业合作,参与医疗器械产业园区的建设和园区的运营管理,服务于“中蒙俄经济走廊”和“一带一路”经济带;配合中加合作的亚太门户计划,与加拿大全球交通枢纽管委会合作(GTH),在全球交通枢纽内建设中加中小企业产业园,以农产品深加工产业为龙头,为中国中小企业产能和劳务输出提供一站式管家服务,为中国消费者提供绿色原生态农产品,同时为中国产品开辟北美自由贸易区的广大市场;中澳文化影视产业园、西澳科学家联盟。

“一带一路”工作委员会还与联合国教科文组织、联合国世界旅游组织和联合国生态文明联盟等国际组织签署了多项长期合作协议,常态化地在顶级国际合作领域,进行国际文化交流、旅游、展览和生态文明建设以及全球贸易等跨境合作。2017年7月20日,在中小企业投融资交易会期间,成功地举办了中小企业国际合作高峰论坛,该论坛将长期举办,以加强和促进中小企业的国际合作。

“一带一路”工作委员会在国内,按照“一带一路”经济带、京津冀协同发展经济圈、长江经济带和中蒙俄经济走廊等国家空间发展战略,与地方政府紧密合作,布局特色产业园区和“一带一路”产品交易中心,打造科技型、创新型和以跨境合作为主导的中小企业产业生态圈。先后参与了乌兰察布产业园区、浐灞领事馆区和浐灞生态区以及四川宜宾国家农业科技园的招商引资工作和园区规划建设,在乌兰察布设立了上市服务中心,并与地方政府合作设立产业引导基金以参与园区建设和运营,助力地方经济和中小企业的健康发展。

Escort for the Building of the "Belt andRoad"

—Interview with Lawyer Yao Huijuan, Head ofthe Legal Service Department of the "Belt and Road" WorkingCommittee,

China Association of Small and MediumEnterprises

Editor's Note

President Xi Jinping proposed a major initiative tojointly build the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime SilkRoad during his visits to central Asian and southeast Asian countries inSeptember and October 2013, which received high attention and response from theinternational community. The National Development and Reform Commission, theMinistry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Commerce jointly issued theVision and Actions on Jointly Building Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st CenturyMaritime Silk Road (referred to as the "Belt and Road") on March 28,2015. The document pointed out that the Belt and Road Initiative, which fullyrelies on the existing bilateral and multilateral mechanisms of China andrelevant countries, and employs existing and effective regional cooperationplatforms, is designed to hold high the banner of peaceful development andactively develop economic partnerships with countries along the route, therebycreating a community of interests, a community of destiny and a community ofresponsibility for political mutual trust, economic integration, and culturalinclusion. I believe that this is a national-level top-level design, which isof great and far-reaching significance to the development of the world economy.

The OBOR Security Cooperation Dialogue between China'sMinistry of State Security and more than 20 national security authorities washeld in Beijing on May 4, 2017. At the meeting, Meng Jianzhu, member of thePolitical Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the Politicaland Judiciary Commission under the CPC Central Committee, pointed out that onlya safe and stable environment can promote the building of the "Belt andRoad" to move forward faster. I believe that the environment here certainlyincludes the rule of law environment in the countries along the "Belt andRoad."

OnJuly 25, 2018, on the occasion of the 5th Anniversary of the Belt and RoadInitiative, the Legal Service Department established by the "Belt andRoad" Working Committee of the China Association of Small and MediumEnterprises (CASME) appointed a lawyer specially handling foreign-relatedmatters as the head of the department, who has been dedicated toforeign-related law for more than 30 years and now still serves in the frontline. She is Yao Huijuan, the founding partner of Beijing Dongyuan Law Firm andthe director of Xi'an Branch. Why did the Legal Service Department of the CASME"Belt and Road" Working Committee appoint a full-time lawyer as thehead of the department? I believe it is Ms. Yao's rich experience, impressiveperformance and fruitful results in the field of foreign-related law and herspirit of handling cases in the front line in her fifties that has beenunanimously favored and highly recognized by the committee. Today, let's have afurther understanding of this Chinese female lawyer who has been hailed by themedia as "the Iron Rose on the international stage who bridges Chinese andWestern cultural exchanges."

Engaged in international legal affairs

The beginning of Ms. Yao's engagement with internationallegal affairs may be traced back to the 1980s. Ms. Yao began to work as alawyer in 1984. Soon after that, she was selected by the Ministry of Justice(only one candidate in Xi'an) to receive international lawyer training inShanghai, and then she became one of the first foreign-related economic lawyersin China. She participated in the first national bar qualification examinationin 1986, ranking first in Xi’an. She participated in the establishment of Xi'anForeign Economic Law Firm in 1988, where she was fully responsible for thebusiness of foreign trade companies and participated in the legal affairs ofsix companies among the nine major import and export companies in Shaanxi. Shewas appointed as the legal advisor to the United Nations Artists Council, wasawarded the title of "United Nations International FriendshipAmbassador," and was warmly received by former UN Secretary-General BanKi-moon and former US President Bill Clinton. Zhao Meixin, the first famousfemale Chinese congresswoman in American history, and Chen Xiangmei, a famoussocial activist, also had cordial exchanges with her. Thus, Ms. Yao was hailedby the media as "the Iron Rose on the international stage who bridgesChinese and Western cultural exchanges." Ms. Yao is currently a member ofthe Corporate Legal Advisory Committee of the All China Lawyers Association, amember of the Legal Advisory Committee of the All-China Federation of ReturnedOverseas Chinese, a legal adviser to Jin Tielin, the Honorary Dean of the ChinaConservatory of Music, an arbitrator of the Nanjing Arbitration Commission, anarbitrator of the Xi'an Arbitration Commission, and an arbitrator of the YulinArbitration Commission. The Outstanding Lawyer of Contemporary Chinacommented on Yao Huijuan: "She is a Chinese female lawyer who has wroteextraordinary and legendary chapters in the development history of Chineselawyers and on the world stage."

As one of the first lawyers specially handlingforeign-related matters in China, Ms. Yao participated in various internationallitigation and arbitration cases in the 1980s and 1990s, where she representedChinese companies on the world stage, safeguarded their rights and interests,and helped them compete equally in the international market. Ms. Yao'sexpertise is evidenced by some international projects or litigation andarbitration cases involving her in recent years.

From December 2009 to March 2014, Ms. Yao Huijuan and GuoYang, as agents of Jiuquan Iron and Steel (Group) Co., Ltd. (JISCO), handled aninternational arbitration case for a company's international steel salescontract with JISCO. Facing the team of French and German lawyers hired by thecompany, Ms. Yao and Mr. Guo fully safeguarded the legitimate interests ofJISCO through detailed analysis of facts, rational use of evidences and correctuse of the law. Ms. Yao also maintained the greatest legitimate interests ofher clients when handling maritime cargo disputes and quality disputes ofinternational trade goods.

In 2017, ICBC Leasing Co., Ltd. (which was established onNovember 28, 2007, and is one of the first pilot bank-based financial leasingcompanies designated by the State Council and approved by the China BankingRegulatory Commission. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Industrial andCommercial Bank of China, with a registered capital of RMB11 billion), hailedas the "aircraft carrier" of the leasing industry, issued a tendernotice for legal advisory services, which attracted dozens of law firms. Ms.Yao Huijuan, who has more than 30 years of experience in corporate legalcounseling and has always handled cases in the front line, was highlyrecognized by ICBC Leasing's senior management and eventually joined thecompany's lawyer team. She then handled relevant cases as an agent, achievedsatisfactory results.

On July 25, 2018, her appointment as of the head of theLegal Service Department of the CASME "Belt and Road" WorkingCommittee stood high in popular favor. Ms. Yao felt that the responsibility onhis shoulders was greater and she could not live up to this trust.

Accordingto the US Fortune magazine, the average life of US SMEs is less than 7years, and less than 40 years for large enterprises. In China, however, theaverage life of SMEs is only 2.5 years, and only 7-8 years for group companies.There are about 100,000 companies in the United States that fail every year,compared with 1 million in China, which is 10 times that of the United States.The life of companies is short, and few can grow bigger and stronger. Accordingto my observation, the reality is that Chinese enterprises, especially privateenterprises, go bankrupt due to poor management or major lawsuits, the stockprice falls due to administrative penalties, and the heads of enterprises arecaught in criminal risks, among others. In the final analysis, these are legalissues because companies do not pay attention to rules. The number of countriesalong the "Belt and Road" has increased to 65 so far. The political, economic,cultural and legal environments of these countries are different. Chinese SMEsgenerally lack the talents and experience in participating in internationaloperations and competition, which has put a severe challenge on the "goingglobal" of Chinese SMEs. The Legal Service Department of the CASME"Belt and Road" Working Committee has been established in the righttime, which keeps up with the trend of the times. No matter for the purpose of"bringing in" or "going global," Chinese lawyers speciallyhandling foreign-related matters will have a long way to go in this profoundchange and development of global economic governance. 

Interview with Lawyer Yao Huijuan, Head ofthe Legal Service Department of the "Belt and Road" WorkingCommittee,

China Association of Small and MediumEnterprises

Editor-in-chief Zhao Wei: Hello, Ms. Yao. 2018 marks the 40th year ofChina's reform and opening up. As a senior lawyer who has served more than 30years in the foreign-related legal field, you are best qualified to speak on thisissue. Could you tell me your opinions and ideas about Chinese enterprises'participation in international competition and international legal affairs inthe building of the "Belt and Road"?

Ms. Yao Huijuan: "Well, I'd like to start with a summaryof the difficulties our companies face in international trade. To develop, wemust first systematically evaluate the difficulties and risks that may befaced, so that we can achieve steady progress with a well-thought-out plan,rather than make a decision recklessly that may result in major economiclosses. Chinese companies have cost a lot to "go global" over thepast years, so we cannot repeat the same mistakes.In the development of the "Belt and Road," companies mayencounter various problems to varying degrees.The first is shortage oftalents. Due to lack of talents and experience in international management,SMEs are often in a weak position in the international market competition asthey feel difficult to effectively identify the potential risks in law,politics, economy, society, environment and security of overseas countries andare lack of understanding of industry policies, legal environments and customsof the countries along the "Belt and Road." Second, most of China'sSMEs are at the low end of the value chain in the global industrial chain, asthey lack brand and international sales channels and are weak in internationalcompetition. Compared with Western multinational corporations, Chineseenterprises have obvious "late mover disadvantages." Most of themcould only find opportunities in countries and industries with poor investmentenvironments and high risks. Some markets seem to have huge space, but inreality, effective demand is insufficient, and blind entry would bring high risks. Third, China's overseas investmentstarted late. Companies are not familiar with the international market and lackof overseas investment experience, and accounting, lawyer, consulting and otherintermediaries have a low degree of development as well as weak risk assessmentcapabilities. The political, economic, and social environments of overseascountries are complex and changeable. Language cultures, business rules, legalsystems, and industry standards are entirely different from those in China.This puts higher demands on the adaptability and management level of Chineseenterprises. Chinese enterprises that go global are also faced with problemssuch as information asymmetry, fragmentation of resources, and vicious competition.They are not conducive to the integration and coordination of strengths, andare also likely to cause repeated waste of resources. Fourth, the financialenvironments of countries and regions along the "Belt and Road" arenot perfect, providing limited financial support for Chinese companies.

Editor-in-chief Zhao Wei: Since Chinese companies have so manydifficulties and risks in "going global," what should we do about it?How can Chinese lawyers or overseas lawyers provide legal protection for Chineseenterprises, especially SMEs?

Ms. Yao Huijuan: This is the original intention forestablishing the Legal Service Department of the CASME "Belt andRoad" Working Committee. What we have built is a platform for cooperationand exchange between Chinese and foreign lawyers. Through the establishment ofsuch a platform, we have reached a consensus on providing excellent servicesfor the sound development of international legal affairs of SMEs. We have alsoestablished a publicity and liaison platform to increase mutual understandingand strengthen the basis of popular sentiment in international affairs throughlegal, political, economic and cultural exchanges; to promote the closecooperation of domestic and foreign law firms; to help Chinese SMEs "goglobal" and "bring in" overseas companies; and to give full playto the role of law in preventing risks and provide long-term legal services inthe host country. We will strive to provide better legal services for thedevelopment of international legal affairs and overseas trading enterprises invarious countries. As the legal systems are diverse and the legal environmentsare complex and volatile in countries and regions along the "Belt andRoad," the building of "Belt and Road" legal services isindispensable, or rigidly demanded.

Editor-in-chief Zhao Wei: What activities related to international legal affairshave you participated in recently? Could you please share with us?

Ms. Yao Huijuan: Allright. I have participated in many activities. Here I will only give a briefsummary of the celebration of the 5th anniversary of the proposal of the Beltand Road Initiative and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of theOverseas Lawyers Group of the Legal Advisory Committee of the All-ChinaFederation of Returned Overseas Chinese, as well as the international legalservice exchange symposium co-organized by the Overseas Lawyers Group and theCASME "Belt and Road" Working Committee on August 17-18, 2018.

Atthe opening ceremony, Zhang Geng, Director of the Legal Advisory Committee ofthe All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, reviewed the history ofthe establishment of the Overseas Lawyers Group of the Legal AdvisoryCommittee. Mr. Zhang said: After ten years of development, the Overseas LawyersGroup has become a powerful team for overseas rights protection. He hoped thatthe members will hold the sword of law and the balance of justice to activelypromote exchange and cooperation between Chinese and foreign legalinstitutions, earnestly safeguard the rights and interests of overseas Chinese,and provide quality legal support and services for the smooth implementation ofthe Belt and Road Initiative and the "going global" of more Chineseenterprises.

I amnot only the head of the Legal Service Department of the CASME "Belt andRoad" Working Committee, but also a member of the Overseas Lawyers Groupand a senior member of the Legal Advisory Committee of the All-China Federationof Returned Overseas Chinese.

On August 18, Iparticipated in the international legal service exchange symposium co-organizedby the Overseas Lawyers Group and the CASME "Belt and Road" WorkingCommittee. The symposium included 28 overseas lawyer representatives from 18countries and regions such as Australia, Germany, France, Britain, Russia,Portugal, Spain, Italy, the United States, Canada, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore,Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa, Brazil, and Hong Kong.

International legal service exchange symposium co-organized by theOverseas Lawyers Group and the CASME "Belt and Road" WorkingCommittee

First row (from left to right): HeLianming, lawyer at TMI Associates, Japan; Chen Jing, lawyer at Deya RealEstate Law Firm, Spain; Chen Weijuan, lawyer at Chen Law Office, Canada; WenTianmin, lawyer at Wen & Schomerus Rechtsanw?lte, Germany; Zhu Xudong, aNew Zealand lawyer, Auckland Whau Local Board Council Member, Vice Chairman ofthe Council; Kan Fengqin, a lawyer at Kan Law and Translation Firm, Mexico; YaoHuijuan, head of Legal Service Department of the CASME "Belt andRoad" Working Committee; Zhao Lian, lawyer at Law Office of Lynn Chao,USA; Lin Man, Lawyer at PLMJ Law Firm, Portugal; Ms. Zhang Hongyuan, wife ofFang Wenchuan, head of Nitichai International Law Offices; Huang Xiaosheng,lawyer at Law Huang International, Ltd., USA

Second row (from left to right): WuHongyu, Secretary General of the CASME "Belt and Road" WorkingCommittee; Shang Shiwei, Director of the CASME "Belt and Road"Working Committee; Zhang Zhiyuan, lawyer at HEUSSEN RechtsanwaltsgesellschaftmbH, Germany; Zhu Shiqi, lawyer at Tianyu Accounting and Law Firm, Brazil; WangZhidong, lawyer at Wang, Leonard & Condon, USA; Shi Renlin, lawyer atDEHENG - SHI & CHEN ASSOCIES, France; Sun Yaoheng, lawyer at Sun Attorneys,South Africa, councillor of the City of Johannesburg, and Director of theJohannesburg Metropolitan Police Department; Cai Qingwei, lawyer at Chua Tan& Associtates, Australia; Shi Ruolong, lawyer at Shi Ruolong Law Firm, HongKong; Zheng Yugui, lawyer at Gordon Cheng Barristers, Solicitors &Notaries, Australia; Liang Zhongping, lawyer at The United Law Firm, U.S.A.;Wang Boyi, lawyer at Wang Boyi Law Firm, Australia; Deng Hansheng, lawyer atDavid Tang & Co. Solicitors, U.K.; Wu Enbin, lawyer at Wu Law Firm, Italy;Fang Wenchuan, lawyer at Nitichai International Law Offices; Zhang Yongyuan,lawyer at Licheng Law Firm, Indonesia; Xiao Jinyao, lawyer at R.S. Solomon LLC,Singapore; Luo Zhangwu, lawyer at CW Loh & Associates, Malaysia; Sun Tao,lawyer at Grandall (Paris) Law Firm; Huang Hui, member of the Legal AdvisoryCommittee of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and deputydirector of the Department of Rights and Interests Protection

The "Belt and Road" Outstanding Legal Service Awarding Ceremonyand the "Belt and Road" Legal Service High-End Forum are to be heldon December 15, 2018. The event is hosted by the Legal Daily andorganized by the CASME "Belt and Road" Working Committee.

A series of guidelines for prevention of legal risks for SMEs doingbusiness in countries and regions along the "Belt and Road" will beformulated by integrating data and considering market demand, internationaldemand, expert advice, and national policies, combined with the law and specialsystems for supporting the development of SMEs in China. The countries that aretemporarily included in the publication are as follows: Singapore,Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Brunei and thePhilippines, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, India, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan,Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Russia, and Ukraine.

As far as the current team of lawyers is concerned, there is a lack oflawyers who can serve the international legal market. To provide moreprofessional and accurate legal services for companies along the "Belt andRoad," it is also considered that in the future, we will continue todevelop the team of lawyers in this field, and cooperate with traininginstitutions to train a group of professional lawyers who can handleinternational affairs. 

In short, the increase and development of overseas tradehas brought a very broad market space and development prospects forenterprises, but the opportunities always coexist with risks. In thisdevelopment process, enterprises will inevitably encounter setbacks and risks.Using legal weapons to protect themselves and to prevent, control and eliminatevarious legal risks will become an inevitable choice for enterprises toparticipate in international competition.

The Legal Service Department of CASME "Belt andRoad" Working Committee now handles the foreign-related legal affairs ofthe Working Committee and conducts friendly cooperation with law firms aroundthe world, so as to jointly protect the sound development of SMEs.

Editor-in-chief ZhaoWei: What are your expectations and visions for Chinese SMEsto participate in the "Belt and Road" building and internationalcompetition?

Ms. Yao Huijuan:The world today is undergoing complex and profound changes. Thedeep-seated impact of the international financial crisis continues to emerge,and the world economy is slowly recovering and developing in a differentiatedmanner. In the wake of the financial crisis, capital chain breaks and othersevere situations would seriously affect the normal operation of enterprises.As the most innovative group in China, SMEs are not only an importantcontributor to China's economic and social development, but also an indispensableplayer in the construction projects along the "Belt and Road." Atpresent, as economic globalization continues to advance, SMEs are increasinglybecoming a major player in foreign cooperation and one of the most importantareas of cooperation in foreign economic and trade relations among countries.They are also the biggest beneficiary and risk-bearer of global economicdevelopment integration now and in the future, so the significance of legalservices for SMEs to participate in international cooperation gets even moreprominent.

With the continuousadvancement of the "Belt and Road" building and the in-depthimplementation of innovation-driven development, encouraging and supportingChinese SMEs to participate in the "Belt and Road" building willbring new development opportunities for SMEs in China which will usher in anera of great development. As long as we seize the opportunities and effectivelycontrol the risks, Chinese enterprises will create a broader space fordevelopment on the world stage. We will also brave the wind and the waves inthe world economic tide and create a more brilliant future.

Attachment:Introduction to China Association of Small and MediumEnterprises (CASME)                       

The ChinaAssociation of Small and Medium Enterprises (CASME) was formally established onDecember 11, 2006. Li Zibin, former deputy director of the National Developmentand Reform Commission and full-time deputy director of the State Council'sWestern Development Office, serves as the chairman of the CASME.

The CASME isa non-profit social group composed of SMEs, as well as large enterprises andwell-known experts and scholars supporting the development of SMEs. With thetenet of serving the members and SMEs wholeheartedly, the CASME strives to playa role as a bridge between governments and enterprises, provide suggestions tothe State Council, and create a good social environment for the sounddevelopment of SMEs. The CASME supports member companies to continuouslyimprove their technological innovation capabilities and corporate managementlevels for professional, refined, specialized and innovative development.

Under thesupport of the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry ofIndustry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Civil Affairs and allwalks of life, the CASME has embarked on the road of market-oriented operationand enterprise management and provided personalized services for membercompanies in financing and personnel training. By employing a socialized andplatform-based service model, the CASME has continuously gained highercredibility and social influence and enhanced service functions. In 2009, itwas rated as a 4A-level association by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. In 2013,it was rated as a national SME public service demonstration platform by theMinistry of Industry and Information Technology. In 2014, it was rated as a5A-level association by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. In 2015, it was rated asa national advanced social organization by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Atpresent, the CASME has a total of more than 220,000 members.

The CASME"Belt and Road" Working Committee is a professional committeeofficially established by the CASME on January 11, 2016. It was officiallyunveiled on April 9, 2016 at the press conference of Diaoyutai StateGuesthouse. The CASME "Belt and Road" Working Committee, with servingSMEs as the purpose, pursuing win-win cooperation as the vision, seeking globalcooperation as the path, and shaping international action and internationalcooperation projects as the core, is committed to investing in the constructionof innovative, technology-based and international cooperative industrial parksor cooperating with existing parks to create a SME industrial ecosystem andindustrial clusters. The "Belt and Road" Working Committee has shapeda comprehensive trade service platform, an international capacity cooperationplatform, a technological achievement transformation platform, a financialservice platform, a matching platform for Chinese and foreign industrial parks,and an international cultural exchange and cooperation platform, in order tohelp Chinese SMEs and those along the "Belt and Road" be deeplyintegrated into the "Belt and Road" building and actively participatein the global economic integration process featuring effective allocation ofglobal resources and high market integration.

The"Belt and Road" Working Committee has four major industrial parks inthe world. In Venice, Italy, by relying on the advanced design resources of theEuropean Union and Italy, the committee has established the World DesignerCooperation Alliance with the Ca' Foscari University of Venice and local designprofessionals, in a bid to provide the most advanced design solutions for parks,industrial products and corporate brand designs in the building of the"Belt and Road." In Ulyanovsk, Russia, the committee has cooperatedwith the government of the Russian Federation, the government of Ulyanovsk andthe large state-owned enterprises in China to participate in the constructionof the medical device industrial park and the operation and management of thepark, serving the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor and the "Beltand Road" Economic Belt. In response to the Asia-Pacific Portal Programbetween China and Canada, the committee has cooperated with the Canadian GlobalTransportation Hub (GTH) to build a SME industrial park in the globaltransportation hub, which, with focus on the deep processing industry ofagricultural products, aims to provide one-stop butler services for capacityand labor export for Chinese SMEs and bring green raw agricultural products toChinese consumers while opening up a vast market in North American Free TradeZones for Chinese products. The committee has also established theChina-Australia Culture and Film Industry Park and the Western AustralianScientists Union.

The"Belt and Road" Working Committee has also signed a number oflong-term cooperation agreements with international organizations such as UNESCO,the United Nations World Tourism Organization and the United Nations Alliancefor Ecological Civilization, regarding regular cross-border partnerships in topinternational cooperation areas such as international cultural exchange,tourism, exhibition, ecological civilization construction and global trade.During the China SME Investment & Financing Expo, the SME InternationalCooperation Summit was successfully held on July 20, 2017. This summit will beheld on a regular basis to strengthen and promote international cooperation forSMEs.

In China, the"Belt and Road" Working Committee has worked closely with localgovernments in accordance with such national geographical developmentstrategies as the "Belt and Road" Economic Belt, theBeijing-Tianjin-Hebei Coordinated Development Economic Zone, the Yangtze RiverEconomic Belt, and the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor, in order toestablish featured industrial parks and "Belt and Road" producttrading centers, thus creating a technology-based, innovative and cross-bordercooperation-led SME industrial ecosystem. The committee participated in theinvestment promotion and park panning and construction of the UlanqabIndustrial Park, the Chanba Consulate Zone, the Chanba Ecological Zone, and theSichuan Yibin National Agricultural Science and Technology Park. It set up alisting service center in Ulanqab and worked with the local government to setup an industrial guidance fund to participate in the construction and operationof the park, in an effort to boost the sound development of the local economyand SMEs.