The 22nd Biennial Congress on the Law of the World closed in Shanghai on Friday after passing the Shanghai Declaration, which calls for the building of "a harmonious international society" through the rule of law.

"The Congress firmly believed that rule of law is the hallmark of human civilization and progress and certainly the most appropriate means for the peaceful and rational resolution of social conflict," says the declaration.

"The common efforts of peoples of the world are required to build, through the rule of law, a harmonious international society which is the common aspiration of the peoples for peace, development and cooperation," it says.

Some 1,500 eminent jurists from more than 60 countries and international organizations participated in the 22nd World Jurist Association's (WJA) Congress on the Law of the World in Beijing and Shanghai between September 4 and 9.

Xiao Yang, president of the Supreme People's Court of China, called the 22nd congress a grand gathering that bore rich fruit at the closing ceremony.

The declaration adopted by the congress affirmed the important role of law in promoting the establishment of a just and fair new international political and economic order, said Xiao, adding that it will produce a positive and far-reaching influence on maintaining world peace and advancing common development and cooperation.

Ved Nanda, honorary chairman of the World Jurist Association, said the congress felt deeply that China's recent remarkable achievements in the economic, social and cultural fields would contribute to its progress in implementing democracy and the rule of law.

Ronald Greenberg from the United States was elected new chairman of the association at the congress.

Source: Xinhua