Faculty Profile

• PhD, Southwest University of Political Science and Law (SWUPL), 2008
• LLM (National [Top 10] Model Students of China), SWUPL, 2003
• LLB, SWUPL, 2000
• BA, Sichuan International Studies University, 1999 (dual degree)

Academic Positions Held

Current Appointment:

• Professor of Law, Yong Pung How School of Law, Singapore Management University, Jan 2023-
• Associate Dean (Faculty Matters & Research), Yong Pung How School of Law, Singapore Management University, Aug 2024-

Previous Appointment:

• Professor, Faculty of Law & Justice, University of New South Wales (UNSW), 2020 - 2022
• Co-Director, Tsinghua-UNSW Joint Research Centre for International Commercial and Economic Law (JCICEL), 2019 - 2022
• Co-Director, Herbert Smith Freehills China International Business and Economic Law (CIBEL) Centre, Faculty of Law & Justice, UNSW, 2018 - 2022
• Co-Director, CIBEL (Chinese International Economic and Business Law) Initiative, Faculty of Law, UNSW, 2017 - 2018
• Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, UNSW, 2015 - 2019
• Professor and Director, Center for Teaching and Research of WTO Cases, SWUPL, 2011 - 2015
• Associate Professor, SWUPL, 2008 - 2011
• Lecturer, SWUPL, 2004 - 2008

Other Positions (selected)

• Member, World Economic Forum AI Governance Alliance, 2024-
• Member, World Economic Forum Future of Blockchain and Digital Assets Initiative, 2024-
• Editorial Board Member, Journal of World Trade & Investment, 2024-
• Editorial Board Member, Journal of International Economic Law, 2023-
• CIBEL Fellow, Faculty of Law & Justice, UNSW, 2023-
• Adjunct Professor, School of Private and Commercial Law, Faculty of Law & Justice, UNSW, Dec 2022 -
• Visiting Professor, National University of Singapore (NUS), 2022
• Editorial Board Member, Asia Pacific Law Review, 2022 
• Visiting Associate Professor, NUS, 2019
• Part-time Faculty, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, 2019
• Member, Academic Forum on ISDS (Investor-State Dispute Settlement), 2018 - present
• Visiting Professor, China University of Political Science and Law, 2017
• University Visiting Professorial Fellow, SWUPL, 2016 - 2019
• CHEN An Visiting Professor, Xiamen University, 2014
• Visiting Professor of International Economic Law, University of Cagliari, 2014
• Adjunct Professor of Law, Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Cleveland, Ohio, 2014
• Member, Asia WTO Research Network (AWRN), 2014
• Visiting Professorial Fellow, UNSW, 2012 - 2015
• Visiting Professor, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, 2011
• Steering Committee Member, Asian International Economic Law Network (AIELN), 2009
• Guest Professor, International Graduate School of Social Sciences, Yokohama National University, 2009
• January Term Professor, Civil Law Section, University of Ottawa, 2009
• January Term Professor, Common Law Section, University of Ottawa, 2008
• Executive Council Member, Society of International Economic Law (SIEL), 2008 – 2015

Honours and Awards (selected)

• Lee Kong Chian Fellow, 2024-2025
• Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project grant, 2022-2025
• Best Feature Article, 2022 Singapore Law Gazette Awards, the Law Society of Singapore, 2023
• Best Paper Prize, Machine Lawyering’s 2021 Conference, Faculty of Law, Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2021 (with Simin Gao)
• Australian Leader in the Field of International Law, The Australian newspaper’s Research Magazine 2020
• Fernand Braudel Senior Fellow, European University Institute (EUI), 2019
• Third Prize, 3rd China Outstanding Law Research Award, China Law Society, 2015
• Second Prize, 8th Chongqing Social Science Outstanding Research Award, Chongqing Municipal People’s Government, 2014
• First Prize, Youth Outstanding Research Award, Chinese Society of International Economic Law, 2012
• Excellent Faculty Member Award, SWUPL, 2012
• Second Prize, 2nd China Outstanding Law Research Award, China Law Society, 2011
• First Prize, Youth Outstanding Research Award, Chinese Society of International Economic Law, 2011
• Award for Teaching Excellence, SWUPL, 2011
• Max Weber Fellow, EUI, 2010 – 2011
• First Prize, Youth Outstanding Research Award, Chinese Society of International Economic Law, 2010
• Third Prize, Outstanding Research Award in Humanities and Social Science in Higher Education Institutions, Ministry of Education, China, 2009
• Fellowship Recipient, World Trade Organization (WTO) Support Programme for Doctoral Studies, 2005-2006
• Outstanding Dissertation Award of Chongqing Municipality, Chongqing Municipal People’s Government, 2005
• Third Prize, China’s 7th Challenge Cup National University Students’ Competition for Extracurricular Works, 2001

Research Areas / Areas of Specialisation

• Governance of digital transformation (e.g. AI, sustainable development, dispute settlement, foresight), including how to address uncertainties
• Digital currencies
• The future of International economic relationships
• (Digital) financial inclusion 
• Regional economic relationship and law development
• China and international economic order

Selected Publications

• For additional publications, see SSRN and ResearchGate
• "Addressing Governance Challenges of Digitalisation and Sustainability", Review of European, Comparative and International Environmental Law, Vol. 33, Iss. 3, 2024, 647-661 (visual abstract; part of keynotes at the World Bank FCI Seoul Center's 10th Anniversary Event and Vaduz Roundtable)
• "The Future of the International Financial System: The Emerging CBDC Network and Its Impact on Regulation", Regulation & Governance, Vol. 18, Iss.1, 2024, 288-306 (an earlier version: "International Dimension of CBDC: A Network Analysis", Proceedings of CPMI (Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures) Conference "Pushing the Frontiers of Payments: Towards Faster, Cheaper, More Transparent and More Inclusive Cross-Border Payments", the Bank for International Settlements, 2021 (7-min video);  best paper prize by and keynote at Machine Lawyering’s Conference, CUHK) (with Simin Gao)
• Digitalization and Financial Inclusion (United Nations Development Programme blog series: blog 1, blog 2 and blog 3)
• Central Bank Digital Currencies and Private International Law (cited in multiple intergovernmental organisation documents such as Doc. No 3B and Doc. No.3A)
• "How to Understand China’s Approach to Central Bank Digital Currency?", Computer Law and Security Review, Vol. 50, 2023, 1-17
• "China’s Approach to Central Bank Digital Currency: Selectively Reshaping International Financial Order?", University of Pennsylvania Asian Law Review, Vol. 18, Iss. 1, 2022, 77-134 (listed as DC Fintech Week 2022 - Featured Research)
• "The Belt and Road Initiative Agreements: Characteristics, Rationale and Challenges", World Trade Review, Vol. 20, Iss. 3, 2021, 282-305 (top 2 downloaded articles in Law, Oct 2023 – Cambridge Core)
• "Selective Engagement? Future Path for US-China Economic Relations and Its Implications", Journal of World Trade, Vol. 55, Iss. 2, 2021, 309-334
• "How to Assess Regional Trade Agreements? Deep FTAs v. China’s Trade Agreements", The International Lawyer, Vol. 54, No. 2, 2021, 247-279
• "Selective Reshaping: China’s Paradigm Shift in International Economic Governance", Journal of International Economic Law, Vol. 23, Iss. 3, 2020, 583-606
• "China’s Approach to the Belt and Road Initiative: Scope, Character and Sustainability", Journal of International Economic Law, Vol. 22, Iss. 1, 2019, 29-55 (one of “Highly Cited Articles”, Journal of International Economic Law)
• "The Future of Deep Free Trade Agreements: The Convergence of TPP (and CPTPP) and CETA?", Journal of World Trade, Vol. 53, Iss. 2, 2019, 317-342
• "How May China Respond to the U.S. Trade Approach? Retaliatory, Inclusive and Regulatory Responses", Columbia Journal of Asian Law, Vol. 31, No. 2, 2018, 151-198
• Rules of Origin for Services, Law Press China, 2010, 1-342 (monograph)