BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhuanet) -- The 22nd Congress on International Law will be held in Beijing and Shanghai from Sept. 4 to 10, Vice President of China's Supreme People's Court Wan E'xiang announced here on Thursday.

    This will be the second time China hosts the congress, following its successful hosting of the 14th congress in Beijing in 1990.

    The theme of this congress will be "the Rule of Law and Harmonyin International Society," focusing on the profound connotation of the rule of law as well as its roles and challenges in establishing harmonious society, according to Wan.

    Under the theme, 22 topics in six categories will be discussed during the congress, involving the legal system of each country and international judicial cooperation, the issues deserving international concerns, issues emerging in the development of the world economy and trade and issues related to social life and environmental protection.

    The congress will also include a mock trial, during which a hypothetical case with realistic significance in the international community will be argued by lawyers from various countries before a collegial panel composed of chief justices from different countries and justices from the International Court of Justice.

    A total of 1,500 delegates to will attend the congress, including more than 500 foreign judges, attorneys, senior lawyers, law professors and high-ranking officials of judicial departments,Wan said.

    He said the Shanghai Declaration would be published during the closing ceremony to reflect the common understanding reached by the world legal profession and the latest research achievements.

    The Congress on International Law is an important non-governmental international congress initiated by the World Jurist Association (WJA). The WJA, found in 1963, aims to help create "a new world of law, where the weak are secure, and peace is preserved forever." Enditem