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 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.