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African Legal Affairs Center Established
Released on:2012-12-11Author:Ren Jisheng,Zhou Zhenguo

A seminar on the legal risks of investment in Africa and the opening ceremony of the African Legal Affairs Center (ALAC) was held in the International Hotel, Beijing on the 25th of September 2012. The seminar was jointly hosted by King-Capital Law Firm and CAIF (China Africa Industrial Forum), which aims to promote the steady and healthy development of China - Africa trade. This activity was strongly supported by the African Diplomatic Corps in Beijing, the Chinese Board of the World Trade Organization on Research Competition Policy and Legal Professional Committee, experts from the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences as well as specialists on Chinese and African law.

His Excellency the Ambassador of Djibouti Mr Abdullah Mjile, the legal expert and leading attorney of King-Capital Law firm Mr. Ren Jisheng, the secretary general of CAIF Mr. Cheng Zhigang, the executive chairman and secretary general of the Chinese Board of the World Trade Organization on Research Competition Policy and Legal Professional Committee Mr Wang Cheng'an, the director of the African Research Office of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Dr He Wenping and the chairman of ALN Mr. John Miles and the representative of ALAC Mr. Zhou Zhenguo delivered speeches. 

Mr Abdullah Mjile warmly welcomed the establishment of ALAC and expressed his appreciation for the efforts that CAIF and King-Capital Law firm have made in promoting China-Africa trade relations. In the speech, Mr Mjile also introduced the opportunities for investment in Djibouti as well as matters to which investors should pay attention. In addition, he indicated that Chinese investors and enterprises were highly welcome to invest in the fields of animal husbandry, fishing, energy, telecom, traveling, banking and other areas.

Mr. Ren Jisheng, the international legal expert and leading attorney of King-Capital Law firm, proposed a “three levels, six aspects and five links” framework in order to continue the long term improvement in cooperation between China and Africa steadily and sustainably.

Mr. Cheng, the secretary general of CAIF, said that the establishment of ALAC met the needs of cooperation between China and Africa. In order to help Chinese enterprises understand Africa better and avoid investment risks, it is natural that CAIF has been founded given that Chinese enterprises are becoming more and more interested in investing in Africa.

According to the speech of Mr. Zhou Zhenguo, the representative of ALAC, the service fields of the center include the investigation and analysis of the relevant policies and regulations of target destination countries, providing an agency for overseas investment procedure, drafting legal documents relating to trade and investment and acting for clients in international business arbitration, as well as many other matters.

The executive chairman and secretary general of Chinese Board of the World Trade Organization on Research Competition Policy and Legal Profession Committee Mr. Wang Cheng'an explained that the committee intended to enhance cooperation with the center, so that it could play a bigger role in assisting Chinese enterprises to “go out” and invest in Africa.

Mr. John Miles, the chairman of ALN, also made a speech analyzing the investment opportunities and risks in Africa. ALN, the Africa Legal Network, was founded in 2004. All its twelve members are recognized as leading law firms by Chambers Global, International Financial Law Review and other authoritative organizations. ALN’s twelve members are located in the three most economically promising regions of Africa. Based on his twenty years of working experience in Africa, Mr. Miles has a deep understanding of African issues. Recently, ALN has become a strategic cooperating partner of King-Capital. 

As the common platform for Africa issues for both CAIF and King-Capital, the object of ALAC is to provide Chinese as well as African enterprises with legal advice, to help enterprises avoid investment risks and develop steadily, to improve China-Africa trade and to offer legal support for African citizens in China on relevant legal issues. CAIF and King-Capital will continue offering their skills and resources, arranging and organizing courses, seminars, forums and other activities focusing on the theme of investment in Africa.