Professor Ignacio Tirado, Secretary-General of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT), recently sent a letter of appreciation to East China University of Political Science and Law (ECUPL), expressing his gratitude for the University’s substantial role as co-organiser of the 2026 UNIDROIT Asian Transnational Law Centre (ATLC) Summer School. He conveyed his appreciation for ECUPL’s dedicated work in programme management, curriculum design, academic support and logistical coordination.
The 2026 UNIDROIT Asian Transnational Law Centre Summer School was held in Shanghai from 22 June to 3 July. Jointly organised by the UNIDROIT Asian Transnational Law Centre and ECUPL, the programme took place in the year marking the centenary of UNIDROIT, founded in 1926, and represented the first substantive collaboration between the two institutions in legal education and international academic exchange.
The Summer School brought together 102 participants from 32 jurisdictions, with faculty members from 10 jurisdictions. Its curriculum covered 12 UNIDROIT instruments and provided training and opportunities for scholarly exchange on topics including private international law, cross-border commercial legal practice and regional rule-of-law cooperation.
In his letter, Professor Tirado noted that the scale of the programme required significant institutional commitment from ECUPL in terms of resources, time and the dedicated work of its staff. He highlighted the University’s academic leadership, contributions to curriculum and programme design, organisational coordination and commitment to linking international legal discussions with Chinese legal scholarship and practice. These efforts, he wrote, were instrumental to the success of the programme and demonstrated the value of a genuine co-organiser partnership. Professor Tirado extended particular thanks to Professor Xiao Kai, President of ECUPL; Professor Wu Qiaofang, Director of International Exchange Center and Dean of International School; and the working teams involved in the Summer School, recognising their leadership, dedication and tireless work across logistical, administrative and academic arrangements.He also acknowledged the important academic contributions made by ECUPL faculty members, whose lectures and seminar participation added depth and perspective to the transnational dialogue.
The letter also commended the range of complementary activities designed and arranged by ECUPL. These included visits to the Shanghai Municipal People’s Congressand several specialised courts in Shanghai, offering participants valuable insight into the practical operation of China’s local judicial system; acultural tour of Shanghai, which deepened their appreciation of the city’s history and culture; and a study visit to Hong Kong, which provided a unique opportunity to engage first-hand with leading legal institutions there.Professor Tirado noted that the combination of academic excellence, practical exposure and cultural enrichment made the Summer School an exceptional and memorable experience.
Professor Tirado further emphasised UNIDROIT’s appreciation of ECUPL’s international influence and its important role in cultivating the next generation of outstanding professionals in international legal practice, as well as in connecting Chinese legal scholarship with global legal education and developments. He added that the expansion of cooperation between the two institutions across multiple areas this year had produced fruitful results and laid a strong foundation for deeper and more diverse collaboration in the future.
The letter of appreciation reflects UNIDROIT’s recognition of ECUPL’s work incultivating foreign-related rule-of-law talent and advancing international exchange and cooperation. It also affirms our efforts to develop the discipline of international law and to establish a global platform for legal dialogue. Looking ahead, ECUPL will continue to build on its strengths in legal studies and its international cooperation platforms to deepen collaboration with international organisations, judicial authorities, government agencies and legal practiceinstitutions. Through these efforts, the University will further refine its distinctive approach to educating foreign-related rule-of-law professionals andcontribute its expertise to China’s high-level opening-up and the advancement of foreign-related rule of law.
