Background
Shi Jiuyong was born on October 9, 1926 in Zhejiang, China. His father, an importer and merchant of dyes who had six children, relocated the family to Shanghai in 1927.
Shi Jiuyong (left) at court
史久镛
Shi Jiuyong was born on October 9, 1926 in Zhejiang, China. His father, an importer and merchant of dyes who had six children, relocated the family to Shanghai in 1927.
Shi Jiuyong, growing up in a relatively wealthy household, was educated in English at the British-run Lester Institute and went on to study law at Saint John's University, Shanghai and obtained a bachelor's degree on politics. Afterward he went to United States and studied at Columbia Law School, New York City, where he obtained postgraduate degree in international law.
From 1956 to 1958, Shi Jiuyong held various teaching and fellowship positions at international affairs colleges and institutes around Beijing. He became a professor of international law at the Foreign Affairs College, Beijing, in 1984. Since the 1980s he has served as an international law representative of the People's Republic of China through various important international conventions and treaties, including the Sino-British negotiations on the status of Hong Kong. Professor Shi Jiuyong is also a former member and chairman of the International Law Commission. He has lectured on international law throughout China and the English-speaking world, including a stint at the Hague Academy of International Law.
Shi Jiuyong was elected to the International Court of Justice on 6 February 1994, and became the president on 6 February 2003 at the age of 77. It was also the first time that a Chinese judge became president of the International Court of Justice.In 2010, Shi Jiuyong announced his resignation from the Court which happened on 28 May 2010.