On May 28, 2020, the third session of the 13th National People’s Congress passed the Civil Code of People’s Republic of China. In fact, Civil Code is the first code since the founding of New China. It is an important achievement in the construction of socialist rule of law in the new era. It is also a basic law featuring solid foundation, stable expectation and long-term benefits. On the afternoon of May 29, 2020, General Secretary Xi Jinping presided over the twentieth collective learning of the nineteenth Political Bureau of the Central Committee, focusing on “the effective implementation of the Civil Code” and delivered a keynote speech. In order to herald the spirit of the conference and implementing Xi Jinping's thought of rule of law, and promote the implementation of the Civil Code, Lanzhou University Law School is actively engaged in establishing an Institute of Civil Code with cooperation from other distinguished universities and law experts.

On the morning of December 31, 2020, the inaugural ceremony, as well as the first seminar of the Institute of Civil Code of Lanzhou University was held. Professor Yang Lixin and Yao Hui of Renmin University of China, Professor Liu Kaixiang and Qian Mingxing of Peking University, Professor Li Yongjun of China University of Political Science and Law, Professor Ma Xinyan of Jilin University and other well-known experts and scholars were invited to attend the meeting and delivered wonderful speeches. Niu Xingquan, first-class inspector of Gansu Provincial Department of Justice, Ren Jianguo, vice president of Gansu Higher People’s court, Ding xiamin, deputy Procurator General of Gansu Provincial People’s Procuratorate, Yan Chunhua, President of Lanzhou University, and Gan Peizhong, Dean of Law School of Lanzhou University attended the meeting. Also, nearly 100 people from all walks of life inside and outside the province and representatives of teachers and students of Law School of Lanzhou University attended the meeting.

At the first stage of the meeting, there was the founding conference of Civil Code Research Institute of Lanzhou University. First of all, Sha Peng, Party Secretary of the Law School of Lanzhou University, announced the “Notification on the Establishment of the Civil Code Research Institute of Lanzhou University”. Then, other invited guests delivered speeches. The inaugural ceremony was presided over by Professor Wang Zhenjiang, head of Civil and Commercial Law section of Lanzhou University and President of Civil Code Research Institute of Lanzhou University.

Professor Yang Lixin said in his speech that the birth of the first Civil Code marks the end of the quasi-codification stage in the history of civil law development in China and officially opens the new stage of codification. He hopes that Lanzhou University Law School will give full play to its own advantages and make use of the research power of experts and scholars at home and abroad and related departments at all levels to build civil and commercial law disciplines and develop personnel training. He said that he would do his best to help Lanzhou University Civil Code Research Institute serve as an important part in conducting researches related to Civil Code.

In his speech, President Yan expressed his sincere gratitude to those who have always cared for and supported the construction of the law discipline of Lanzhou University. He invited all teachers and students to grab the hard-won opportunities, consolidate more academic excellence and special disciplines, and make progress in the field of Civil Code research. In this way, it can further complete the rule of law for the country and make more contributions especially in the western region.

Eventually, the dean of Law School gave a closing speech. He commented that “With the participation and witness of all, Lanzhou University Civil Code Research Institute was established. This is a newly-born baby, like a flower in bud. Also, it is the demonstration of the Law School to guard the western border of the motherland”. The institute should conduct research under the guidance of Xi Jinping's rule of law thought, make contribution to the civil law research through hard efforts and strive for achieving high-quality results as soon as possible.