Bilateral trade between China and Africa has developed rapidly in recent years.Since 2009, China has been Africa's largest trading partner for 10 consecutive years.ln his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of 2018 Beijing Summit of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), President Xi Jinping made it clear that the building of the Belt and Road Initiative should align with the development strategies of African countries and build a closer China-Africa community with a shared future. To this end, he proposed that China should work closely with African countries in the next 3 years and beyond to implement the \"Eight Major Initiatives\". These cover the following 8 areas: industry promotion, infrastructure connectivity, trade facilitation, green develop-ment, capacity building, health, people-to-people exchanges and peace and security. The implementation of the \"Eight Major Initiatives\" will bring a rare historic opportunity for the development of China-Africa economic and trade relations. With the development of investment and trade between China and Africa and the further strengthening of cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Africa, there are bound to be a large number of economic, trade and investment disputes,civil and commercial disputes and various criminal cases between China and Africa . It is proposed in the Initiatives adopted at previous FOCAC that China and Africa should negotiate and sign more bilateral treaties on investment and judicial assistance in the field of legislation, justice and law enforcement.But, with the rapid development of China-Africa economy, trade, investment and cultural exchanges, the current legal construction is still lagging behind and can't provide effective legal guarantee for bilateral exchanges and cooperation.
We are witnessing major changes unfolding in the world, changes unprecedented in a century. With the in-depth development of world multipolarization, economic globalization, social informatization and cultural diversity, peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit have become the common aspirations of human society; and it is the common wish of people from all countries to build a community with a
]shared future for mankind. At the same time, humankind is faced with many common challenges, typified by fierce power politics among major countries, continuous regional conflicts, terrorism, development imbalance, climate change, rising unilateralism and protectionism.China, as the largest developing country in the world, is a builder,contributor and upholder of the cause of peace and development of mankind. The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China held in October 2017 has led China to a new great joumey of development. Guided by Chinese Ptesident Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the Chinese people are making continued efforts to achieve the Two Centenary Goals of China and the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and to make new and greater contributions to mankind. Africa,the continent with the largest number of developing countries, is one of the important forces in safeguarding world peace and promoting global development. In recent years, Africa has made the admirable advances on the road of pursuing sustainable self-development and strength through unity, changing from a \"hopeless continent\" for the West to a \"continent with a future full of hope,\" and a \"running lion. \" African countries are actively exploring development paths that suit their own national conditions, and the African people are forging ahead to realize The Agenda 2063 and the African dream of peace and prosperity.
China and Africa boast a deep-running friendship and have long formed a community with a shared future. China attaches great importance to the development of China-Africa relations. In March 2013, Xi Jinping visited Africa, also his first trip abroad as national leader. He also chose Africa for his first overseas visit in July 2018 after he was elected to a second term Over the past six years, Xi has visited the African continent four times and arrived in eight African countries,including Tanzania, South Africa and Senegal, showing the world that China cherishes the traditional friendship with Africa and values highly
the continent and China-Africa relations. In 2018, the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was successfully held. At this summit, Xi revealed the essential characteristics of China-Africa unity
and cooperation, pointed out the direction of bilateral ties, and outlined
the specific paths for the common development of China and Africa He has greatly improved and innovated the theoretical framework and ideological system of China's policy toward Africa, which has then
become an important theoretical innovation of Xi Jinping thought on
diplomacy of socialism with Chinese charactenistics for a new era and
provided a strong political principle and guide for the development of China-Africa relations in the future. This summit marks another
milestone in the history of China-Africa relations.
Introduction
Chapter 1
The Importance of China-Africa Bilateral Legal Cooperation
1.1 The Need of Safeguarding Long-term Healthy Development
1.2 The Need of Solving Legal Problems in China and Africa
1.3 The Need to Promote the Reform of Intemational Economic and Trade Rules
Chapter 2
The Current Situation and Deficiencies of China-Africa Bilateral Legal Cooperation
2.1 China-Africa Bilateral Investment Protection Treaties
2.2 China-Africa Bilateral Civil and Commercial Judicial Assistance Treaties
2.3 Problems Existing in Bilateral Civil and Commercial Judicial Assistance Treaties between China and Africa
2.4 China-Africa Bilateral Treaties on Criminal Judicial Assistance
2.5 Bilateral Agreements on the Avoidance of Double Taxation between China and Africa
Chapter 3
The Improvement of Legal Cooperation between China' and Africa
3.1 Improving the Existing Bilateral Legal Cooperation Framework between China and Africa
3.2 Negotiating and Concluding Bilateral Free Trade Treaties as soon as Possible
3.3 Expanding Areas of Bilateral Legal Cooperation between China and Africa
3.4 Attaching Importance to Multilateral Legal
Cooperation
Reference