China Commercial Law (English Version) (Bilingual Legal Textbook for Higher Education)

Author: Zhu Yikun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-08-29
Features: In the face of the challenges of 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. Guided by the trends, the Ministry of Education issued the "Opinions on Strengthening Undergraduate Teaching in Higher Education Institutions and Improving Teaching Quality" in 2001, known as Document No. 4 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 foreign languages such as English in public and professional courses. For law and other disciplines, "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 the public compulsory courses for all majors. Law has its own unique conceptual system, which includes many difficult and obscure professional terms. Reading in Chinese alone is already daunting, and learning in an English context without English textbooks makes it even easier for students to feel lost in a maze. Therefore, writing suitable law textbooks for all-English teaching is undeniably urgent. 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, the structure is clear, and the primary and secondary points are distinct, discarding minor details and allowing readers to grasp China's commercial law comprehensively and systematically in a short time. To achieve the goal of simplicity, this book has boldly explored or innovated in terms of its format structure and the presentation of viewpoints. In summary, there are four main points: (1) Each chapter begins with a brief section, particularly tables, that concisely links the vast legislative provisions into propositions, outlining the overall picture and evolution of the laws and regulations involved in the field, providing readers with a general understanding and preparation 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 the knowledge: (3) Designing and using 58 charts (51 tables and 7 figures). Legal concepts and rules can be extremely complex, but by carefully organizing them into tables and graphics, they are simplified and made clear, facilitating horizontal comparisons and research, allowing readers to appreciate the subtle differences between different systems: (4) Boldly using standardized abbreviations, with a dedicated abbreviations index following the table of contents, reducing or eliminating redundant text and significantly saving space, making it easier for readers to read. As a new undertaking, the publication of this series of textbooks is made possible by the strong support of the Law Press, especially Mr. Ding Xiaoxuan, and the recommendation 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, which I will never forget and be grateful for forever. Discussions with my colleagues at Jinan University, such as Dr. Xu Xuan, Dr. Liu Ying, and Dr. Lü Guomin, have benefited me greatly. It is especially worth mentioning that when this 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. A new undertaking naturally means imperfections and incompleteness. The new attempts made in this book are bound to come with corresponding risks and omissions. If corrections and suggestions are provided by experts, I will be deeply grateful.