On June 24, 2026, the 4^th Forum on Developing Countries and International Law opened in Beijing. This year’s forum, themed ‘International Rule of Law and Global Governance: A Vision for Peace and Prosperity’, was co-hosted by the Asian Academy of International Law (AAIL), the Chinese Society of International Law, and the Institute of International Law at Wuhan University. Around 300 participants attended, including representatives from international organisations like the United Nations, the African Union, the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization, and the International Organization for Mediation, as well as diplomats from developing countries in Asia and Africa and international law experts, scholars, and practitioners from around the world.

Professor Huang Jiefang, Secretary-General of AAIL, emceed the opening ceremony, and Professor Xiao Yongping, Vice President of the Chinese Society of International Law, delivered a welcome speech. Ms Hua Chunying, Vice Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China, attended and addressed the forum. She highlighted that the international rule of law is one of the core concepts of global governance and an important guarantee for building a fairer and more reasonable global governance system. She stressed that unilateralism, hegemonism, and zero-sum games are severely undermining world peace and security, damaging the authority of the UN, and shaking the foundation of international rule of law. She emphasised the need to uphold sovereign equality, defend the authority of the UN Charter, ensure respect for the sovereignty and dignity of all countries, allow free choice of social systems and development paths, and promote equal participation in global governance. She also called for practicing multilateralism and improving international rules, noting that China is willing to work with the Global South to contribute wisdom for promoting global governance through the rule of law.

During the two-day forum, experts focused on two subtopics: ‘Rule of Law in International Relations: Positions and Contributions of Developing Countries’ and ‘Innovative Practices for Advancing Peace and Common Prosperity through the Rule of Law’. Parallel sessions discussed challenges to international rule of law and responses from the perspectives of international peace and security, and international trade and economic order. Key topics covered wide-ranging areas, including global security framework, climate change, cybercrime, right to development, and trade wars.

Deputy Secretary-General of AAIL, Mr Adrian Lai, and several legal experts from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region also attended the forum.

At the closing session, Professor Huang Jiefang pointed out that this forum was an opportunity to digest different food for thought and gather collective wisdom; a platform to focus on edge-cutting international issues and contribute constructed proposals; and a podium to clarify the roles of stakeholders and jointly envision the future. Developing countries have historically and currently made significant contributions to the advancement of international law. He noted that with continued efforts from the Global South, international rule of law will be strengthened and global governance improved, achieving the ideal of ‘turning swords into plowshares’, namely sustaining peace and advancing prosperity.