On the noon of March 12, the School of International Law at China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL) successfully held a simulated court symposium in the conference room of the Scientific Research Building. Mr. James Bacchus, a globally renowned authority on international trade law, the first former Chairman of the WTO Appellate Body, Distinguished Professor of Global Affairs at the University of Central Florida (UCF), Director of the Center for Global Economic and Environmental Opportunities, and Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Trade and Investment Policy Committee, attended as the guest of honor and engaged in in-depth discussions with multiple faculty members from the School of International Law.

During the symposium, Professor Bacchus shared insights into academic research and practical work, drawing from his expertise in WTO dispute settlement mechanisms and interdisciplinary research at the intersection of international climate agreements and trade rules. In response to faculty questions such as "how to select research topics" and "challenges in publishing international law academic achievements," he advised young scholars to focus on genuinely compelling fields, courageously explore under-researched issues, or propose innovative solutions to conventional problems. Professor Bacchus emphasized that academic research requires courage—both to challenge existing frameworks and to ground investigations in legal texts, clarifying ambiguous provisions through rigorous analysis. Additionally, he offered perspectives on emerging issues such as digital trade rules, data flows, and data localization, advocating for resolving disputes through incremental negotiations.

Faculty members from the School of International Law engaged in lively discussions with Professor Bacchus on topics including international legal talent cultivation and academic publishing environments, contextualized within Chinese practices. The International Law School will continue to establish high-level academic exchange platforms and foster in-depth integration between international legal theory and practice.

（Associate Professor Lan Hua, Associate Professor Li Boxuan, Lecturer Tang Ya, and Lecturer Guo Shuai participated in the symposium.）