Chinese Commercial Law (English Version)

Author: Zhu Yikun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-08-01
Features: In the face of the challenges posed by economic globalization and technological revolution, China's legal system has been increasingly aligning with international standards: the internationalization of China's legal education is self-evident. The Ministry of Education, guided by the situation, issued the "Opinions on Strengthening the Teaching of Undergraduate Courses in Higher Education and Improving Teaching Quality" in 2001, known as the No. 4 Document of 2001 (hereinafter referred to as "The Opinions"). This document proposed twelve measures to enhance the quality of undergraduate teaching, among which the eighth measure was actively promoting the use of foreign languages, including English, in teaching at domestic higher education institutions, actively creating conditions for the use of English and other foreign languages in public and professional courses. For law and other specialized fields, "The Opinions" explicitly required taking the lead and striving to achieve 5% to 10% of foreign language teaching courses within three years. To this end, many universities have successively attempted to teach some law courses in English, and many universities have even established international colleges where all courses are taught in English, with "Introduction to Law" or "Basic Principles of Law" being compulsory public courses for all majors. Law has its own unique conceptual system, which includes many difficult and obscure professional terms, making reading in Chinese already daunting. To teach and learn in an English context, without English textbooks, students are even more likely to feel lost in a maze of confusion. Therefore, the urgency of compiling law textbooks suitable for all-English teaching is self-evident. China’s Commercial Law (《》) is an all-English textbook that adopts a reader-friendly writing style aligned with international standards. The book closely follows the logical system of the current commercial law, covering companies, foreign-invested enterprises, securities, bills of exchange, insurance, maritime law, and bankruptcy law, succinctly outlining the basic institutions of China's current commercial law. The selection of materials is well-chosen, well-structured, and clearly prioritizes main points over minor details, discarding trivial issues. Readers can grasp China's commercial law in a relatively comprehensive and systematic manner in a short time. To achieve simplicity, the book has boldly explored and innovated in aspects such as its format and structure, and the presentation of viewpoints. In summary, there are four main points: (1) Each chapter begins with a brief section, particularly tables, that succinctly links the vast legislative framework into a series of propositions, outlining the overall picture and evolution of the laws and regulations involved in the field, providing readers with a general grasp and understanding of the legislative framework to lay a foundation for comprehending the subsequent specific institutional arrangements: (2) The main text introduces 23 carefully selected cases to illustrate the relevant legal systems, both vividly and concisely explaining the legal principles while inspiring readers to think deeply and grasp the subtleties, enabling them to generalize and apply knowledge. (3) It designs and uses 58 charts (51 tables and 7 figures). Legal concepts and rules can be complex and confusing, but the use of tables and graphics for meticulous organization helps simplify and clarify the information through interconnected themes, facilitating horizontal comparisons and research, and highlighting the subtle differences between different systems. (4) It boldly uses standardized abbreviations, with a dedicated abbreviations section following the table of contents to reduce or eliminate redundant text, significantly saving space and making the book easier to read. As a brand-new endeavor, the publication of this series of textbooks was made possible by the strong support of Legal Press, especially Mr. Ding Xiaoxuan, and the of Dr. Gao Jinkang, Dean of the School of Law at Southwest University of Finance and Economics. Although the author has moved beyond the field of industrial economics, Professor Yun Guanping, Professor Huang Suihong, Vice President Hu Jun, and President Zhang Bingshen of Guangdong Financial College, as my mentors and teachers, have continued to provide care and guidance as always. I will never forget and be eternally grateful for all this. My discussions with my colleagues at Jinan University, Dr. Xu Xuan, Dr. Liu Ying, Dr. Lü Guomin, and others, have benefited me greatly. It must be specially mentioned that when the book was nearing completion, my computer was struck by a rampant virus, and in an instant, all the manuscripts were lost. My two students, Zhang Hongpeng and Yang Shaoxiong, as well as Mr. Mai Yunliang and Mr. Xie Zishu from Guangdong Litigation Law Firm, worked day and night to rescue the manuscripts. Otherwise, I might not have been able to bear the consequences. Naturally, all textual responsibilities in the book rest with me. New endeavors inherently mean imperfections. The above new attempts in this book are bound to come with corresponding risks and omissions. If the experts kindly point out any flaws, I will be deeply grateful.