Participants at the seminar on legal aid in Beijing.[Photo/legaldaily.com.cn]

The first China-EU Legal Aid Policy Dialogue on legal aid was held in Beijing from Sept 1 to 2, 2014, with vice- minister of justice Zhao Dacheng giving a speech at the opening ceremony.

Participants, discussed the latest trends and policies of legal aid in China and EU, social participation in it and how high-quality can be ensured, modernization of legal aid management, and legal aid's opportunities and challenges.

Speeches were given by experts from the International Legal Aid Group, the Dutch Legal Aid Board, the Finnish Ministry of Justice, the French Ministry of Justice, the Dutch Ministry of Security and Justice, the English Department of Justice, the Wales Department of Justice, the Scottish Legal Aid Committee, the French Association of Lawyers as well as the Chinese Ministry of Justice, the All-China Federation of Labor, the All-China Lawyers Association and regional bureaus of justice.

The seminar was part of the three-year China-European Legal Aid Project agreed by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and the EU Delegation in China. The Project covers policy dialogue, theoretical discussion, surveys and skill training.