The Law School of Xiamen University engages early in the teaching and research of international economic law in China to meet the urgent need by China's reform and open-up policy. With the approval of the former State Education Commission, Xiamen University was the first institution in China to enroll the Master of Law (LL.M) candidates majoring in international economic law in 1981, and recruit undergraduate students and the Doctor of Law (LL.D) candidates in this major in 1985 and 1986 respectively. In 1998, the LL.D. program in international economic law was adjusted as the LL.D program in international law. For promoting the level of research and teaching of international economic law, International Economic Law Institute (IELI) of Xiamen University was formally established on October 5, 1987. The project "International Economic Law and the Laws of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao" proposed by IELI was approved by the former State Education Commission in June 1995 as a project of the"211 Projects" - the State's projects for construction of 100 key universities in China in the early 21st Century. In January 2002, International Law Major in Xiamen University was selected by China's Ministry of Education as a State's Key Major.

Ever since its foundation, the Institute, taking advantages of its good location in Xiamen Special Economic Zone and in adjoining Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao and Southeast Asia, has actively undertaken many research projects at the national level, and has had a series of monographs and textbooks in this subject published. All these make great contributions to the establishment of Chinese international economic law system and specific researches in the field.

With respect to the academic team, the staff of the Institute has developed into a vigorous, cooperative and promising group, the majority of which are middle-aged or young talents with overseas studies experience. Amongst the academic leaders, Professor Chen An is the Chair of Chinese Society of International Economic Law, member of International Commission of Comparative Law and an arbitrator of the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) designated by the Chinese Government, enjoying high reputation in the international law circle home and abroad. Professor Zeng Huaqun was selected in 1997 on the list of "the State's Project for Academic Talents". Professor Liao Yixin was chosen in 1998 as a candidate for the Education Ministry's program for "Fostering Outstanding Talents for the New Century". Professor Xu Chongli was awarded in 1998 with "the Prize for Outstanding Young University Teacher by For Ying Tung Education Foundation". Professor Li Guoan specializes in international monetary and financial law and makes great achievements.

With respect to postgraduate cultivation, the Institute has explored and developed its own training pattern: "mutual promotion between teaching and research, and the concurrent development on both postgraduate cultivation and research accomplishments". As a result, the Institute has brought up a block of advanced talents specializing in international economic law, who have won high evaluation from government agencies, judicial organs and foreign business circle, etc.

With respect to the academic exchanges, the institute has established constant informational and academic exchanges with many international economic organizations and foreign universities and institutes, such as Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) and ICSID. In 1994, the Secretariat of Chinese Society of International Economic Law was set up in Xiamen University. The Institute thus is a major organizer for the annual conference and symposium of this nationwide society. The Journal of International Economic Law, a nationwide journal first published in 1998 and edited by this Institute, is a journal for a collection of articles and notes in international economic law. It has won universal appreciation from both the theoretical circle and practitioners. In 2001, with the recommendation of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Institute was approved by the UN agency as "UN Depository Library".