"When Roman law was first created in Rome over 2,000 years ago, its jurists were known as bridge builders (pontifices) because they enabled people on opposite sides of the river to come together," explained Oliviero Diliberto, professor of Roman law and current Italian dean of the Sino-Italian Institute at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law (ZUEL). In today's fragile world, Diliberto sees law as continuing to serve that essential role: building international understanding and offering tools to confront global challenges.

 Oliviero Diliberto (Photo/Patrick Shead-Simmonds)

When discussing the influence of Roman law on China's legal development, Diliberto describes it as remarkably enduring. "Roman law remains the foundation of civil law systems around the world, apart from the Anglo-Saxon tradition," he noted. A collaborative project between Sapienza University of Rome and Peking University initiated the translation of Roman legal texts into Chinese, which played a key part in the codification of China's Civil Code. This codification effort culminated in the Civil Code's enactment on Jan.1, 2021, based on the Roman law model. Diliberto and his team immediately produced the first Italian translation of China's Civil Code in May 2021. A second edition followed soon after and was officially presented to Italian President Sergio Mattarella. "It was a great success," Diliberto said with pride.

Diliberto has also played a central role in strengthening educational ties between China and Italy. In 2016, the Sino-Italian Study Centre was established, with President Mattarella attending the opening ceremony. Now known as the Law and Economics Study Centre, it has become a vital hub for academic exchange between the two countries. Over the past nine years, the centre has hosted 16 international conferences, welcomed 15 visiting professors, and provided academic homes to nearly 100 Chinese PhD students specializing in Roman law. Numerous Italian legal classics have also been translated into Chinese, further enriching the cross-cultural dialogue.

Diliberto's relationship with ZUEL began through his former student, Huang Meilin, who invited him to visit the university. Impressed by its dynamism and good will for international collaboration, Diliberto helped develop a joint course between Sapienza and ZUEL. Launched in 2019, the programme saw its first cohort graduate just two years later. Today, Sapienza runs five courses at ZUEL, and over 400 Chinese students are currently studying in Rome.

On Sept. 30, 2024, Diliberto received the prestigious Chinese Government Friendship Award from the Chinese government. "It was one of the most emotional and important moments of my life because it is the highest recognition and award for a foreigner in China," he affirmed. "The award was not only for me, but also for the magnificent team we have built at Sapienza and ZUEL." He expresses admiration for Chinese President Xi Jinping's vision of "a community with a shared future," and emphasizes that in the face of global threats like climate change and natural disasters, legal cooperation is indispensable.