On 15 September 2020, CPI hosted its first “CPI Lecture Room” in the China P&I Centre as part of the Civil Code and the China Marine Insurance lecture series organised in collaboration with Shanghai Maritime University (SMU) Law School. The Vice Chairman of Civil Law Science Research Association in China Law Society and PhD Supervisor of Peking University Law School Prof. Qian Mingxing, Central University of Finance and Economics School of Insurance Associate Prof. Fang Zhiping delivered lectures respectively on the backgrounds and significance of the Civil Code and the legal pluralism of guaranteed contract. Dean of SMU School of Law Prof. Wang Guohua, CPI Managing Director Dr. Song Chunfeng, CPI Deputy Managing Director Mr. Liu Yutong, CPI Deputy Managing Director Mr. Gong Xiqian, representatives of members’ companies, and CPI staff attended the meeting. More than 300 people participated in the lecture online and offline. The lecture was co-chaired by Mr. Liu Yutong, CPI Deputy Managing Director, and Prof. Wang Guohua, Dean of SMU School of Law.

In the first half of the lecture, Prof. Qian Mingxing fully interpreted the background and significance of promulgating the Civil Code. In his opinion, the Civil Code is a product of deepening overall reform in China, which provides legal basis of activities of civil subjects. Prof. Qian said that the Civil Code is the fundamental law to promote national economic development, and it protects the lawful rights and interests of each legal subject to build wealth in order to maintain social harmony and stability.

In the second half of the lecture, Associate Prof. Fang Zhiping comprehensively analysed the legal pluralism of guaranteed contract in The Civil Code. He elaborated on the guaranteed contract including legal natures, enactment, co-guarantee, durations, and liabilities integrating insurance claims handling practices. In the end, he answered several questions from representatives of members and CPI staff.

The CPI philosophy is to serve members wholeheartedly and protect the shipping industry devotedly. The “CPI Lecture Room” aims to provide a learning platform for members, partners, and staff to communicate and exchange views. Participants said that the first “CPI Lecture Room” addressed pressing issues because the Civil Code has received wide attention in the shipping industry since its promulgation. The lecture invited authoritative professionals in the Civil Law academia to interpret the law in a practical manner. The “CPI Lecture Room” will continue to feature informative lectures that fulfill the needs of members, partners, and staff.