SOME POSITIVE NEWS! While the news is full of war, a nice story of international bridge-building just emerged, unnoticed.
A girl called Lingling was born to the Zhang family in Beijing in 1981. She grew up and went into the law.
In 2011, she went to study in Hong Kong, which has a reputation as an east-west bridge. As part of a legal course at Hong Kong City University, her teachers took her to The Hague courts in Europe, and to the United States—where she watched the Supreme Court in action and met the legendary Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
The visit “gave us an indispensable insight into American culture and allowed us to experience life in a unique professional, political and social atmosphere,” Ms Zhang said on her return to Hong Kong.
After the course, she went back to Mainland China, and rose up the ladder to become a senior judge in Beijing.
Recently, a vote was held for a new judge for the United Nations’ Court of Appeal. Zhang Lingling had been nominated as a candidate.
“She got the highest number of votes!” said her former teacher, Priscilla Leung Mei-fun—who is a law professor, and also represents Hong Kong at the National People’s Congress in Beijing.
Judge Zhang Lingling will begin a seven-year term at the United Nations headquarters in New York on July 1, 2026.
So, from a background in humble 1980s China, she is now in an important international legal role.
RISE OF CHINESE LAW
Her success is not just about one woman. The Chinese legal system itself is rising in international prominence.
Recently, 210 Chinese cases in a variety of legal fields have been cited by international organizations such as the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, the UN Environment Programme, and the World Intellectual Property Organization.
“Having even one case adopted is already excellent; we have 210,” Professor Leung told an interviewer from Wen Wei Po, a Chinese newspaper.
The irony, of course, is that much of the world believes that China has no legal system at all, thanks to the constant demonization of the country. In fact, it has a large and fast-growing legal system, and is producing judgments that the world’s lawyers are citing.
“We have finally transformed from learners to leaders,” Professor Leung said.
RESPECT FOR DIFFERENT SYSTEMS
Looking into Judge Zhang’s comments about other countries, one is struck by the way that she approaches places with different legal systems – Mainland China, Hong Kong, Europe and the US – with respect and an openness to learn.
How different the world would be if we followed that example.
It’s ironic – the western corporate media always harshly criticizes Hong Kong for any tiny signs of integration with Mainland China – but that is actually the city’s great mission, to bring east and west together in a positive way.
I also like her story for another reason – bridging China and the west is a really important thing to do for the peaceful future of the world, and the tale shows that Hong Kong does it really well.
Click the image below for a report from the 2026 Two Sessions on the growth of Chinese law.
Click on the image below for a report on Priscilla Leung’s visit to the 2026 NPC.
The image at the top of the page comes from a speech Zhang Lingling gave on intellectual property law.