At the invitation of the Law School of the University of Exeter and the Law School of the University of Bristol, a group of five members from the Law School of the China University of Political Science and Law, Prof. Jiao Hongchang, Prof. Li Shuchong, Prof. Qin Aolei, and Associate Prof. Shen Weiwei, travelled to the United Kingdom from 1 August to 8 August 2023 to visit the Law School of the United Kingdom, the Law School of the China University of Political Science and Law in Exeter and Bristol for a visit.

On 1 August 2023, the delegation arrived in London late at night at local time, and departed for the School of Law of the University of Exeter on the second day. Professor Jiao Hongchang of the delegation introduced the school running situation of our school, and exchanged views with Professor Li Li, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter, Professor Clair Gammage, Dean of the School of Law, and Professor Aurel Sari, Head of the Foreign Affairs Department, on the specific arrangements for the academic exchanges and the exchange of students between the two schools. On 3 August, the delegation and the Faculty of Law of the University of Exeter jointly organised an academic seminar on ‘Comparative Constitutional Law: China and the United Kingdom’. Teachers of the delegation delivered speeches on the control of constitutionality of draft laws, constitutional supervision, reforms and the constitution, matrimonial regimes, state of emergency and other issues. Professor Raphael Girard, Professor David Barre and Professor David Yuratich of the University of Exeter gave keynote speeches on issues related to the British Constitution. After the keynote speeches, the delegation conducted in-depth academic discussions and exchanges with their British counterparts.

From 4 August to 7 August, the mission travelled from Exeter to the University of Bristol. Representatives from the University of Bristol Law School, Professor Ken Oliphant, Professor Julian Rivers, Professor Colin Gavaghan and Professor Robert Greally, held talks. Prof Jiao Hongchang expressed his gratitude to the hospitality of the University of Bristol Law School, and said that the School of Law of the University of Political Science and Law of China attaches great importance to international exchanges, and is willing to cooperate with the University of Bristol Law School in the fields of research on the theory of public law, translation of English legal masterpieces, and research on the law of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence, and so on. Prof Jiao Hongchang and Prof Li Shuzong exchanged views with the person in charge of the University of Bristol on the specific matters of future inter-institutional cooperation and reached a preliminary intention of cooperation. Afterwards, the two sides held an academic seminar on the topic of ‘Comparative Constitutional Law: Constitutional Review’, in which the delegation and their British counterparts had in-depth academic discussions and exchanges.

The visit enhanced academic exchanges in the field of constitutional law between China and the United Kingdom, and also laid the foundation for future cooperation between the College and the Faculties of Law of the University of Exeter and the University of Bristol in international academic exchanges, student exchanges, and co-organisation of summer programs.