The contemporary Chinese legal system is essentially an outcome of the functioning of comparative law and will remain so in the years to come. This is particularly true given that insights of legal regimes in other countries have frequently been used to construct a strong and durable legal framework for modern China. On the other hand, the Chinese legal system is itself beginning to influence developments around the world. Chinese practices with respect to legal construction and reform have increasingly become models for other nations, in particular developing countries striving to modernize and improve their legal systems. As China emerges as a leading world power and as the modernization of its legal system proceeds apace, the interaction of Chinese law and other legal systems will continue to deepen and intensify. As a result, there is now a strongly felt need for a leading international forum for comparative legal studies of...