Bridging cultures with legal services: Xiamen's approach to serving international residents

The Justice Office of Yundang issues a letter of appointment to a foreign legal publicity volunteer.

A foreign legal volunteer shares insights at a legal publicity workshop.

The Justice Office conducts surveys on the legal needs of foreign residents.

The Justice Office organizes a foreign-related legal publicity event integrated with Spring Festival traditions.

The Justice Office provides legal consultations to foreign residents.

In the Yundang area of Xiamen, a coastal city in East China's Fujian province, foreign-related legal services extend far beyond mediation. Home to residents from 46 countries, the area is faced with an important issue: How can international residents better understand Chinese law and have their legal needs met effectively? The Justice Office of Yundang has developed a "3C" approach -- "Carrier," "Cooperation," and "Culture" --which stands for carrier innovation, collaborative governance, and cultural transmission. Through professional legal services and warm, humanistic care, the office has built a bridge connecting Chinese and foreign residents in the neighborhood.

Focusing on protecting the privacy of foreign residents and providing better legal services, the Justice Office of Yundang has dedicated great efforts to upgrading the hardware and optimizing the functions of legal service facilities.

In 2023, the International Public Legal Service Office was launched in Guanren Community, along with the creation of bilingual legal education micro-spaces. With legal publicity exhibits positioned alongside greenery and leisure benches in the community square, residents can learn about legal matters in an approachable and relaxed setting during their daily leisure time.

Moreover, the justice office selects enthusiastic and reliable foreign residents to serve as legal publicity volunteers, who play a key bridging role in foreign-related mediation. Meanwhile, the office integrates the extensive resources of foreign-related lawyers within its jurisdiction to establish a "volunteers + lawyers" collaborative mediation model. This approach not only helps overcome cultural barriers but also ensures professionalism and legal compliance, enhancing trust in and the expertise of the process for resolving foreign-related disputes.

Meeting the specific needs of foreign-related legal services relies on in-depth research and multi-party collaboration. The justice office works with foreign legal publicity volunteers, foreign-related lawyers, and other stakeholders to conduct thorough surveys on legal needs. Through panel discussions and one-on-one interviews in locations frequently visited by foreign residents — such as residential compounds and restaurants — the office gathers direct input.

Based on the research findings, the justice office has identified common concerns among foreign residents — such as renting, driving, and pet ownership — as key entry points for legal education. Using vivid illustrations and concise language to explain legal knowledge, the office launched the "Foreigners in Xiamen" series of bilingual legal comics.

Additionally, it compiled and printed the bilingual "One-Stop Service Handbook for Foreigners in Xiamen," and upgraded a mini-program with a new "Legal Guidance" section. These efforts aim to foster a shared understanding of "living together in one place, abiding by the same laws, and building a common home," thereby enhancing the relevance and effectiveness of foreign-related legal outreach.

The office also prioritizes cultural integration as a catalyst for legal awareness, actively exploring a "rule of law + culture" model. Its innovative flagship program, "Lakeside Legal Salon: Bilingual Dialogues on Law," is held regularly in diverse settings and has attracted wide participation from Chinese and foreign residents.

In one creative session, participants piece together puzzles of the Chinese character for "law" (法) from different historical periods. By showcasing the character's evolution and the legal principles it embodies, the activity enhances participants' enthusiasm for learning through bilingual interaction, effectively deepening foreign residents' understanding and appreciation of China's legal culture and environment.

In another session, the salon integrates local tea drinking culture, blending the art of brewing Kung Fu tea with mediation practices. Amid the soothing aroma of tea, volunteers explain to foreign residents the traditional concept of "valuing harmony as paramount," demonstrating how it underpins conflict resolution.

Today, the "3C" approach has become a signature initiative for Yundang's foreign-related legal services. It has proven effective not only in resolving disputes but also in fostering cultural empathy, demonstrating that the rule of law can truly serve as a common language that transcends national borders.