摘要： 通过对英格兰、德国和法国有关外国法程序地位相关制度的历史考察可以看出，一国在程序法层面如何对待外国法主要取决于以下四个层面的因素，即：一国在历史上形成的对待外国法的社会心理态度，体现一国如何体认外国法性质的国际私法理论，一国在国际私法价值与程序法价值之间的权衡与选择，以及一国有关法院与当事人之间职责分配的民事诉讼体制。上述四个层面的总体情况决定了我国应在坚持法律说的前提下兼顾程序效益。基于这一判断，在外国法适用问题上，我国应采由法官依职权适用外国法而由当事人查明外国法的做法。

关键词: 国际私法, 外国法, 依职权适用, 任意性适用

Abstract: From a historical research of the procedural status of foreign law in England, Germany and France, it can be concluded that how a country treats foreign law in procedural law depends on the following four factors, i. e.，firstly, the psychological attitude towards foreign law which has arisen during a country's treatment with foreign law in history; secondly, the theory of private international law which reflects a country's perception of foreign law; thirdly, the balance between and the selection of the value of private international law and the value of procedural law; and finally, the system in civil procedural law regarding distribution of duties between court and parties. The general circumstances of the above four factors in China mean that China should abide by the “law doctrine”，whereas the procedural efficiency should also be considered. As far as the model relating to the application of foreign law is concerned, based on the above conclusion, it should be proposed in China that judges should apply the foreign law ex officio，whereas the parties bear the burden of proof of foreign law.

Key words: Private International Law, Foreign Law, Application ex officio；Voluntary Application