As Professor HE Weifang started his talk, he said “constitutionalism is an attempt to contain power. As long as there is power, there is the need to contain it.” He then introduced in the core problems, i.e. why is constitutionalism successful in some countries, but a complete failure in some others. As China adopted the system of prefectures and counties (a system of local administration which took shape during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Qin Dynasty) long ago, why China did not go on a constitutional path.

Professor HE Weifang tried to analyz the problem from a historic point of view with reference to the Meiji Reformation of Japan, and China’s practice in the Qin and Song Dynasties. He shed light upon the current reforms of China and current affairs. His talk was well received by the audience. After the talk, he also took some questions.