The Second Tongji-Sorbonne Student Academic Semianr Held

 

From September 3rd to 7th, 2018, the Second Tongji-Sorbonne Student Academic Semianr of “Comparative Study of Tax Law between China and France” was successfully held in Sorbonne University, Paris, France. Secretary Yang Qiuhua, Professor Gao Xujun, Assistant Professor Chen Jielei and Ms. Zeng Caixia, shepherded ten undergraduate and ten graduate students to attend the five-day seminar in Paris.

 

 

In the morning of September 4th, more than 30 Chinese and French teachers and students gathered at the law school of Sorbonne University to hold the opening ceremony of the summer session. Firstly, Professor Ludovic Ayrault, Dean of Economic Law introduced the history and basic situation of the Sorbonne University. Later, on behalf of the 24 teachers and students from Tongji Law School, Mr. Yang Qiuhua, deputy secretary of the Party Committee, expressed gratitude for the invitation and arrangement of Sorbonne University, and he looked forward to the coming academic and cultural exchanges between teachers and students of both sides in the next three days, and wished the summer session a success.

 

The focus of this seminar is academic exchange on the issue of tax law in China and France. On the afternoon of September 4th, the summer session officially began. More than 30 students from China and France participated in this course, and they made reports and discussions on “overseas income tax”, “preferential tax policy for high-tech enterprises”, “tax for small and medium-sized enterprises”, “e-commerce tax”, “tariff reduction and exemption system” and “value-added tax system for asset management products”. During the exchange, students from both sides were fully prepared, the theme of the report was clear, the key points were highlighted, and the discussion was heated. Both sides not only deepened their understanding of the tax law in China and France, but also better understood the differences of legal systems between China and France under different political and cultural backgrounds. The teachers and students at the meeting agreed that they had benefited a lot.

 

In addition to academic exchanges, the Sorbonne University also arranged visits to the Sorbonne campus, the office of the French Education Supervisor, the Sorbonne church, the library of law school of Sorbonne University, the French Senate Hall, and the French Supreme Administrative Court. During the visit to the Senate Hall, the vice president of the Senate introduced the French parliamentary system, personnel composition, voting rules to the teachers and students of Tongji Law School. During the visit to the French Supreme Administrative Court, the vice president of the Supreme Administrative Court introduced in detail the dual functions of the Supreme Administrative Court, which is responsible for both the litigation of administrative litigation cases and the consultation of administrative legal issues for the French government. He also focused on the structure, functions and powers, trial period and trial principles of the Supreme Administrative Court, which aroused great interest among Chinese students.

 

 

 

During the summer class, Mr. Yang Qiuhua, deputy secretary of Tongji Law School, and Professor Gao Xujun also had a discussion with the Foreign Affairs Office of Sorbonne University, the dean of Sorbonne Law School, the director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Sorbonne University, and the project leader. The two sides hope to further expand the scope of cooperation in addition to summer sessions, such as student exchanges and short-term visiting scholars. The two sides also decided to continue to hold the third summer session on the topic of tariff in Tongji University in early June 2019.

 

At noon on September 6th, teachers and students of Sorbonne law school saw off Tongji teachers and students in a unique cave restaurant. Professor Ayrault delivered a farewell speech, where he said that both Chinese and French teachers and students have gained a lot in this summer exchange program. The summer session is very successful, and he is looking forward to the next reunion with Tongji teachers and students. Afterwards, Professor Gao Xujun expressed his gratitude to Sorbonne University for the invitation and warm reception. He said that the teachers and students of Tongji Law School had benefitted a lot in tax law from this program, and were deeply impressed by the charm of Sino-French culture collision. He sincerely invited French teachers and students to meet in Tongji University next summer. Finally, Mr. Yang Qiuhua, deputy secretary of Tongji Law School, once again expressed her gratitude to the French teachers and students for their hospitality. She said that during the five days, the Chinese and French teachers and students have conducted in-depth exchanges in academic, cultural and other aspects, and have also forged deep friendship. She hopes that the friendship between the teachers and students of the two universities will last forever and sincerely look forward to meeting again.

 

 

The three-day summer session between Tongji University and Sorbonne University has come to an end. After the academic exchange and cultural collision, students would come back to the intense learning life. The charm of legal science and humanities will become a cherished memory and a new starting point for exchanges and cooperation between Tongji law school and Sorbonne University.

 

 

The first university of Paris, also known as Pantheon Sorbonne University, is the cradle of legal development of all other French universities. It has cultivated a large number of talents for the development of French law education and the construction of French rule of law. It is an important partner of Tongji University in Europe. In the summer of 2017, the first “comparative study of Chinese and French tax laws” summer session was successfully held in Tongji Law School, Shanghai. Teachers and students of both sides had a five-day heated discussion on the issue of Sino-French tax law, and arranged for French students to visit the court and Museum, which was highly praised by both teachers and students. This has laid a solid foundation for further cooperation and exchange between the law school and a major law school in Paris. In the summer of 2018, under the active promotion of Professor Ludovic Ayrault and Professor Gao Xujun, and with the strong support of Tongji University, the second summer session of “comparative study of Chinese and French tax law” was held in Paris, France as scheduled. Teachers and students said that in such activities, they have broadened their international horizons, felt the charm of different cultures and benefited quite a lot.

 

Contributors: Jin Jiaying, Zhang Jing, Zhou Jin, Mao Yanyan, Zhu Xinyue, Tan Zhehui, Chen Danxia

Photographers: Liu Shiyu, Wang Qing, Qi Xiao

Instructors: Gao Xujun, Yang Qiuhua