Beijing, China, 28
th
November 2016, Edward Lehman appeared on CCTV’s Dialogue, hosted by Yang Rui, to discuss the recent Chinese State Council’s Guidelines on Greater Protection for Property Rights. A copy of the guidelines can be found at
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2016-11/27/c_1119999035.htm
.
The full episode can be viewed at
http://english.cntv.cn/2016/11/29/VIDE5knU5yS1kiMuTHyBNkWN161129.shtml
.
The Guidelines represent the first time that the State Council has issued guidelines on the protection of property rights (
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/nation/Better-protection-of-property-rights/shdaily.shtml
). The State Council and the Chinese Communist party stated:
“The country will provide equal, comprehensive and law-based protection to all kinds of property rights and encourage the participation of the public in the process…”
The Guidelines explicitly recognises that there are some inherent flaws in the current system of property ownership and that remedies are required to solve “Eight Property Problems” (
http://www.xinhuanet.com/jrgz/20161127a/index.htm
).
The Guidelines are targeted at property in all its forms, including Intellectual Property, which is sometimes a point of contention between China and its foreign trading partners, and was recently made an issue by US President-Elect Donald Trump (
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/12/trump-america-has-leverage-over-china-because-it-owns-so-much-us-debt.html
).
During the show, Edward Lehman stated:
“What happened on Sunday might be the most significant thing that has come across. It sends a signal. It doesn’t mean that the apparatus is in place yet to handle this signal, but it says to the judiciary, it says to the people… it creates a certain amount of awareness that property rights will be put on the same level as Government rights.”
LEHMAN, LEE & XU hopes that the Government will find the best path forward for the nation: One that balances property rights with those of the State. We hope this because as a Chinese law firm, we would like to see China prosper.
Edward Lehman holds the distinction of being China’s longest serving Managing Director for any law firm (Chinese or foreign) over the years, Edward Lehman has received recognition from his peers for his long term work in China. Edward Lehman is a Legal Commentator for China Central Television and a 25+ year resident of mainland China.
LEHMAN, LEE & XU is a licensed People’s Republic of China law firm, and the only Chinese law firm with a dedicated Visa and Mobility practice. The Firm was founded in Shanghai in 1992 as one of the first private law firms in China.
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