The Asian Academy of International Law (AAIL), in collaboration with the Chinese Society of International Law, successfully hosted the annual flagship event, 2025 Colloquium on International Law, on 4 July in the Hong Kong SAR.

Held under the theme ‘UN’s 80th Anniversary: Bridging Innovation and Governance – LawTech, AI and Future of International Order’, the Colloquium attracted over 250 legal professionals, government officials, institutional leaders, and scholars from 47 jurisdictions around the world to discuss the impact of legal technology and artificial intelligence on the international order.

The event featured an opening address by The Hon Mr John Lee Ka-chiu GBM SBS PDSM PMSM, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR of the People’s Republic of China. The Chief Executive emphasised Hong Kong’s dual role under the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ framework as both a ‘super connector’ and a ‘value-adder’, actively promoting the development of legal technology. He specifically noted that the Department of Justice has established a Legal Tech Advisory Panel to formulate strategies for online dispute resolution and the application of artificial intelligence.

Mr Cui Jianchun, Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong SAR, outlined four key directions for AI governance: upholding the leading role of the United Nations, ensuring inclusive and equitable development, safeguarding technological safety and controllability, and promoting global collaborative governance. He affirmed that Hong Kong, with its internationalised legal foundation and talent pool, can play a pivotal role in shaping global ethical norms for artificial intelligence.

In his keynote speech, Mr Miguel de Serpa Soares, former Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel of the United Nations, underscored that international law is the cornerstone for governing a fragmented digital world. He called for five pragmatic actions: codifying fundamental AI norms, establishing global governance institutions, developing technology standards aligned with public values, deepening public participation and democratic oversight, and integrating sustainable development – ultimately constructing a ‘Charter for the AI Era’ centred on human dignity.

This Colloquium highlighted Hong Kong’s unique advantage as a nexus of international law and technological innovation. AAIL reaffirmed its commitment to fostering cross-jurisdictional dialogue and promoting the development of the rule of law and regional cooperation in the age of artificial intelligence. Dr Kamalinne Pinitpuvadol, Secretary-General of the Asian–African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO), remarked that the Colloquium not only contributed to shaping the future of global legal governance in the digital age but also provided a practical knowledge base for the business community, legal professionals, and policymakers.