Belt and Road Initiative Simulation Program – Foundation for Law and International Affairs

THE BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE SIMULATION

The BRI Simulation Program is an international negotiation program that equips students and young professionals with knowledge and skills for participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. It is the first direct and comprehensive educational program for the BRI. It is designed and developed by the Foundation for Law and International Affairs (FLIA).

The program provides training and courses, competitions, publications, and a professional network. Students and young professionals who have participated in competition can join the OBOR Talents Pool and become a member of the OBOR young professional network.

For more information about the program, see here.

The Fifth Competition The Fourth Competition The Sino-Foreign Cooperative Universities' Competition (2024) The Third Competition The Second Competition The First Competition

The Fifth Competition

The 5th Belt and Road Initiative Simulation Competition - Open for Applications!

The Foundation for Law and International Affairs (FLIA), in collaboration with the University of Reading School of Law, is pleased to announce the 5th Belt and Road Initiative Simulation Competition. The event will take place on July 28, 2026, and invites university teams from around the world to take part in a dynamic, interdisciplinary negotiation competition aimed at deepening students’ understanding of inclusive international negotiations.

About the Competition

The Belt and Road Initiative Simulation Competition provides a unique platform that integrates experiential learning with practical application. Centered on hypothetical BRI project cases, participants will tackle core issues such as legal frameworks, financial considerations, environmental challenges, labor concerns, and geopolitical dynamics. Teams will represent various stakeholders, including a company, a local government, an NGO, and an intergovernmental organization (IGO), working to resolve conflicts and foster collaboration through English-language negotiations.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Simulation Competition has been held five times—in 2018, 2019, 2024, and 2025, along with a special edition in 2025 dedicated to Sino-foreign cooperative universities, following a pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, the competition has attracted over 1,200 student participants. Its training courses and materials have also been adopted by universities worldwide, further expanding its global reach and impact.

Event Highlights

Develop global perspectives and enhance negotiation and collaboration skills.
Engage with real-world, interdisciplinary challenges across law, finance, environment, and geopolitics.
Compete with peers worldwide and receive live feedback from leading scholars and practitioners.
Access internship opportunities with top law firms.

Awards

Team Awards: These include, but are not limited to, the Gold Best Team Award, Silver Team Award, and Bronze Team Award.
Individual Awards: Several individual awards will be presented, including Law Advocacy Award, Public Speaking Award, and Diplomacy Award.

Competition Details

Date: to be announced
Venue: University of Reading
Application Deadline: May 11, 2026, 4:00 PM (London Time)

How to Apply

The competition this year welcomes both team and individual applications. Interested applicants should submit the application form attached below via email to contact@flia.org.

Team applications may include 3–5 participants.

We welcome individual applicants in cases where forming a team on your own is difficult. We will group individual applicants into teams and ensure each applicant has equal access to the competition.

Fees

No registration fee will be charged. Teams and individuals are responsible for their own travel, accommodation, and meal expenses.

Upon successful application, applicants will receive a confirmation email from the Secretariat on May 14, 2026, along with a link to pay the participation deposit. Applicants are required to pay a deposit of $200 for team applications or $80 for individual applications by May 20, 2026 at 4:00 PM (London Time). This deposit will be fully refunded upon attendance on the competition day. Refunds will be processed within 7 business days after the event via the original payment method. Applicants who withdraw before May 20, 2026 (deposit deadline) may request a refund. However, applicants who withdraw after receiving their roles and confidential instructions, or who fail to attend the competition, will forfeit the deposit. Given the nature of quadrilateral negotiations, it is essential for the Secretariat to ensure that all four parties are present at the negotiation table. Therefore, applicants’ commitment is critical. By submitting the deposit, applicants agree to these terms.

Coffee breaks and a reception dinner will be provided during the competition.

Visa Application Support

If you or your teammates require invitation letters for UK visa applications, please mention this in your email when submitting the application form.

Call for Papers

FLIA’s journal, Foundation for Law and International Affairs Review, is accepting submissions on negotiation and international dispute resolution. For details, visit our official webpage or submit directly to fliareview@flia.org.

Attachment 1: Competition Rules and Regulations

Attachment 2: Case Details and Guidelines

Attachment 3: Key Dates and Q&A Information

Attachment 4: Application Form

Attachment 5: Awards and Rubrics

The Fourth Competition

On May 11–12, 2025, the Fourth Belt and Road Initiative Simulation Competition was successfully held at the East China University of Political Science and Law (ECUPL) in Shanghai. Co-hosted by FLIA (Foundation for Law and International Affairs) and ECUPL, this year’s event brought together 68 universities from across China, marking a new milestone in scale, participation, and impact.

Awards and Recognition

Following two days of intensive rounds, the Gold Prize was awarded to teams from:

Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Sichuan University
Tongji University
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
(listed in alphabetical order by pinyin)

The Silver Prize went to teams from 13 universities:

Anhui University of Finance and Economics
Beijing Jiaotong University
Northeast Forestry University
University of International Business and Economics
East China University of Political Science and Law
Nantong University
Shanghai University of International Business and Economics
Shanghai University of Political Science and Law
Shenzhen University
Wenzhou-Kean University
Southwest University of Political Science and Law
Zhejiang Normal University

(listed in alphabetical order by pinyin)

The Sino-Foreign Cooperative Universities' Competition (2024)

On May 25-26, 2014, the Foundation for Law and International Affairs (FLIA) co-hosted a groundbreaking Belt and Road Initiative Negotiation Simulation at Wenzhou-Kean University. This event, organized through collaboration with the Research Institution Business Environment and Rule of Law in Wenzhou-Kean University, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University International Business School, and emlyon business school, marked a significant milestone for Sino-Foreign cooperative universities, and signals potential future simulation programs with universities throughout the world.

The simulation brought together over 60 students from eight countries and more than ten disciplines, spanning four continents. These students engaged in a dynamic negotiation process, adopting roles as Chinese investors, host country governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and international organizations (IGOs) to explore better solutions for the major issues involved in a Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) railway construction project.

Click here to read more about the event.

The Third Competition

On March 9th and 10th, 2024, the Third Belt and Road Initiative Simulation Competition was organized at the East China University of Political Science and Law.

The competition saw participation from 76 teams representing 66 universities, including three international student teams comprised of students from 9 different countries.

As Xinhuanet and http://www.china.com.cn/ report, “This competition stands as a beacon of international innovation and leadership in negotiation simulations, effectively fostering students' interdisciplinary skills, prowess in international negotiation, and the application of international rules. It has proven to be an effective educational model and practical platform for advancing the development of the Belt and Road initiative and nurturing talent in foreign-related legal fields.”

After two days of spirited competition, teams from Fudan University, Southwest University of Political Science and Law, Fujian Normal University, and the East China University of Political Science and Law (exchange students) emerged victorious, securing the first prize. Teams from Renmin University of China, Beijing Normal University, Xiamen University, Shanghai International Studies University, Henan University, Northwest University of Political Science and Law, Zhejiang Normal University, and the East China University of Political Science and Law (Chinese students) were awarded the second prize.

The competition garnered extensive support from various partners, including the School of Law at Beijing Normal University, Dalian Ocean University, Guangzhou College of Science and Technology, the China Overseas Interest Protection Research Base, the School of International Law at Southwest University of Political Science and Law, the School of Trade Negotiations at Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, the Shanghai Intellectual Property Academy at Tongji University, the School of Law at East China University of Science and Technology, and the Asia-Pacific Law Institute at Renmin University of China.

More info about this competition can be found here.

The Second Competition

The First Competition

For those interested in participating in our next competition, request to join one of our various training sessions here.

We will help you accelerate your negotiation skills that you can take to the competition and beyond.

Ready to join?

We are calling universities and students to attend the third Belt and Road Initiative Simulation Competition worldwide.

For more information, please contact us at contact@flia.org

Find out more here