On 20 November 2020, sponsored by the People's Government of Sanya and jointly organized by Sanya Investment Promotion Bureau, Sanya Bureau of Justice and King & Wood Mallesons, Hainan Free Trade Port Digital Economy Investment Law Seminar and the opening ceremony of the "King & Wood Mallesons International Legal Service Center for Digital Economy" was held in Sanya. He Shigang, deputy mayor of the People's Government of Sanya, Xu Kezheng, secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group of Sanya Justice Bureau, Gu Xiyin, director of Sanya Investment Promotion Bureau, and representatives from nearly 110 companies attended the ceremony.
More than 60 partners, including Zhang Yi, chairman of the KWM China Management Committee, Wang Lixin, managing partner of the KWM International Center in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), and Susan Ning, head partner of the King & Wood Mallesons International Legal Service Center for Digital Economy attended the event.
On 9 April 2020, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued the Opinions on Improving the Systems and Mechanisms for Market-based Allocation of Factors of Production, which explicitly identifies data as a new type of production factor. The official recognition of data as a basic resource at the country level ushers us into the new stage of the digital economy. Against this backdrop, KWM has closely followed the policy, and established the "International Legal Service Center for Digital Economy" (the "Center") to seize the policy dividend and to contribute to the firm's internationalization and shift to more digitalized legal services.
On behalf of the People's Government of Sanya, He Shigang extended a warm welcome to all the guests attending the seminar and said, "In accordance with the unified arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, the provincial Party Committee and the people's government, Sanya has made continuous efforts in the digital economy in recent years. Taking the Internet Information Industry Park, Remote Sensing Information Industry Park, Hainan Information Security Base and other parks as carriers, we focus on the development of new buiness forms such as big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. We have actively promoted the construction of Hainan International Offshore Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Sanya) Pilot Zone to push forward the construction of 'Urban Super Brain' and 'Smart Sanya'. We are striving to build Sanya into a pilot zone for scientific and technological system reform, a frontier for opening up to the outside world, and a leading zone for the opening-up and innovation of the digital economy. A digital economy ruled by law is not only a necessary condition for building an intelligent and informationized digital society and a strong digital city, but also an important target of building a society ruled by law and law-based Sanya. Sanya warmly welcomes friends from all walks of life at home and abroad to actively participate in and contribute to Sanya's digital economy development and digital security governance. I hope that Sanya will provide you all with an opportunity to start you own business and have a bright future here in the city. Driven by institutional innovation, Sanya will spare no efforts to improve business environment and provide first-class services for enterprises."
Xu Kezheng said in his speech, "In a world where we see the rapid development of digital economy and intelligent society, the integration of law, technology and economy has become an irreversible trend under the new development pattern in which domestic economic cycle plays a leading role while international economic cycle remains its extension and supplement. The legal service industry has been entrusted with new missions such as how to provide better legal services for the digital economy, how to improve the rule of law system to meet the requirements of digitalization, and how to effectively guard against the risks in the process of digital economy development, so as to better ensure the sound development of the digital economy industry. These are also the rule-of-law issues proposed by the construction of Hainan Free Trade Port. We have to actively explore new ways of development while adhering to tradition and making innovation, and seek breakthroughs in the changes brought by reforms and the guarantee provided by the rule of law. The establishment of the King & Wood Mallesons International Legal Service Center for Digital Economy is highly compatible with Hainan's demand for digital economy, information technology and legal services in the process of building the free trade port. Meanwhile, it empowers Sanya's dominating high-tech industry and modern service industry. It will surely play a more demonstrative and leading role in building a law-based, international and facilitating business environment."
In his welcome speech, Zhang Yi said, "On 1 June this year, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued the Master Plan for the Construction of Hainan Free Trade Port, which aims to build Hainan Island into a high-level free trade port with strong international influence. The establishment of the King & Wood Mallesons International Legal Service Center for Digital Economy in Hainan is another strategic move for us to better respond to the development trend of Hainan and its demand for legal services. By exploring new development opportunities, best practices and innovative applications in the field of digital economy with all sectors across the society in a bold and innovative way, we are determined to build KWM into a reliable service provider for the digital economy. At the same time, the Center will also coordinate with our Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Hong Kong offices to create a comprehensive service and resource platform that reaches out to South China and the world at large."
Susan Ning said, "Thank you all for witnessing the establishment of the King & Wood Mallesons International Legal Service Center for Digital Economy. The move is KWM's response to the central government's plan to build the whole island into a free trade port, and part of its overall plan to seek digitalized development in the GBA. The Center aims to build an international and innovative comprehensive legal service platform, giving full play to KWM's leading legal service capabilities in the industry. This cross-sector and interdisciplinary platform enables us to provide all-round legal services for the construction of Hainan Free Trade Port. Seizing the opportunity of deepening the development of the digital economy in the free trade port, the Center will lay a solid foundation for providing international legal services for digital economy, and make real contributions to the development of the digital economy. "
After the ceremony, the King & Wood Mallesons International Legal Service Center for Digital Economy held a seminar on Hainan Free Trade Port Digital Economy Investment Law. The seminar aimed to focus on client needs and value orientation in the digital economy, and highlight legal services targeted the digital economy. In addition, roundtable dialogues were held on topics including "Investment and Financing Opportunities and Challenges in the Digital Economy", "Customs, Labor, and Environmental Compliance in the Digital Economy", "Overall Development Trend of the Digital Economy and Its Impact on the Industry", "Digital Currency, Financial Data Assetization and Data Protection" and "Intellectual Property Rights in Data and Protection of IPRs".
The day before the seminar, KWM Sanya office held a housewarming ceremony at its new office. Nearly 80 people, including more than 30 partners from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Suzhou offices, over 30 partners and staff from Haikou and Sanya offices, and clients, attended the ceremony. Director of the Sanya Bureau of Justice delivered a speech and unveiled the plaque. Deng Zhenhai and Wu Kaitian, vice presidents of Hainan Lawyers Association also came to the event and expressed their congratulations. Wang Lixin, managing partner of the KWM International Center in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), made a speech. The ceremony was moderated by Susan Ning, managing partner of KWM Sanya office.
Wang Lixin said, "Congratulations on the relocation of Sanya office! The relocation marks further enhancement of our practice in Sanya. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Hainan Department of Justice, Sanya Bureau of Justice, and the Bar Association for their strong support to KWM. The KWM International Center and our offices in the GBA will actively support the development of the two offices in Hainan and collaborate actively with the Hainan FTP CloudOffice. Riding on a wave of the construction of Hainan's Free Trade Port, we are going to assist Hainan's businesses in seizing the historical opportunities for common development.
