On October 16, a significant ceremony was held at East China University of Political Science and Law to launch the “Green Channel” for the Hague Convention on the Abolition of the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (hereafter referred to as the “Convention”). This initiative is spearheaded by the Shanghai Changning District Overseas Chinese Federation, in collaboration with various organizations.
Starting November 2023, the Convention will come into effect in China. Recognized as one of the most important international treaties within the framework of the Hague Conference on Private International Law, it aims to simplify the procedures for the international transfer of official documents by replacing traditional consular authentication with a more efficient verification process. The goal is to facilitate cross-border trade and the mobility of people.
The establishment of the Green Channel is designed to implement specific measures following the Convention’s adoption in China, streamline services for overseas Chinese, and enhance legal support for Chinese expatriates and their businesses.
During the launch event, seven organizations, including the Changning District People’s Court, the Changning District Judicial Bureau, and the Changning Notary Office, were awarded the inaugural membership of the Green Channel. Each organization pledged to proactively enhance their relevant skills and provide dedicated services to overseas Chinese individuals and enterprises. The Changning Notary Office and the Changning District Overseas Chinese Federation also signed a partnership agreement to create a collaborative mechanism that integrates resources and coordinates services effectively.
Qi Quansheng, the chairman of the Shanghai Overseas Chinese Federation, emphasized that the Green Channel represents an innovative approach to delivering faster and more efficient services for overseas Chinese and their businesses. He called for increased awareness, improved service quality, and broader outreach to ensure that expatriates can benefit from these initiatives, thereby contributing positively to a market-oriented, law-governed, and internationally accessible business environment.
Han Qiang, the deputy secretary of the Party Committee at East China University of Political Science and Law, expressed the university’s commitment to supporting the development of the Green Channel. The institution plans to contribute by providing high-quality legal services, creating a national legal service platform for overseas Chinese, and training professionals in the field of overseas Chinese legal studies, thereby bolstering services for expatriates.
