The 54th Annual Session of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization has opened in Beijing. Premier Li Keqiang delivered a keynote speech, saying China will cooperate with the AALCO members to safeguard the post war international order and promote the rule of law at the international level.

The 54th Annual Session of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization, or AALCO, has opened in Beijing. Premier Li Keqiang has delivered a keynote speech, saying China will cooperate with the AALCO members to safeguard the post war international order and promote the rule of law at the international level.

This is the second time Beijing has hosted the annual session of the AALCO. The first time was in 1990.

Li said this year's meeting is very important as it coincides with a political milestone, the 60th anniversary of the Bandung Conference.

"The international community and China will hold a series of events to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Bandung Conference. President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders will attend the related activities. This session of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization is part of the commemorative activities,” Li said.

"The meeting itself is sending a clear signal to the international community that China is willing to work together with Asian and African countries and the rest of world to continue upholding the spirit of the Bandung Conference and safeguard the post-war international order."

The AALCO is an intergovernmental organization established in 1956. It follows in the spirit of the 1955 Bandung Conference, which was to that date the largest gathering of Asian and African countries. It was there that the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-Existence was built upon, and the Ten Principles on handling state-to-state relations were put forward, emphasizing peace, equality and sovereignty, among others.

This year's AALCO session focuses on topics as varied as international law in cyberspace, workings of investment treaties, law of the sea and legal aspects on violent extremism and terrorism.

Li said it is important to safeguard the post-war international order, as this year also marks the 70th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations. Li said peace, development and win-win cooperation are the prevailing trends of our times.

"China will support the cause and work of the AALCO as always. I'd like to announce that China will fund the establishment of the China-AALCO International Research and Exchange Program. That shows our respect for the contribution made by all the AALCO members, and it will also help strengthen Asian-African countries' cooperation on the rule of law at the international level," he said.