On Dec. 27, China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (“CIETAC”) held Seminar of Selected Arbitrators in Beijing. About 160 CIETAC arbitrators participated in the seminar.

(About 160 CIETAC arbitrators participated in the seminar)

This seminar consisted of four sessions. First, Wang Chengjie, Vice President and Secretary General of CIETAC delivered the opening speech. Secretary General Wang Chengjie reviewed the arbitration work of CIETAC in 2019, summarizing the development of caseload, procedural management, arbitrator team construction, problems reflected therefrom and promotion efforts. He also reported the work plan of the year 2020. Secretary General Wang Chengjie said that CIETAC was currently in an important stage of laying foundation. Internally, CIETAC must continue to promote the reform of internal mechanism and system, optimize case management and strengthen professional team construction; externally, CIETAC must pay close attention to domestic and international markets, strengthen cooperation with other entities, i keep progressiveness, and strive to make breakthroughs.

(Secretary General Wang Chengjie delivered the opening speech)

Next, based on his own working experiences, Tao Jingzhou, Senior arbitrator of CIETAC shared his feelings and experiences as presiding arbitrator from over a dozen aspects. Arbitrator Tao Jingzhou said that arbitrators shall disclose their conflict of interest in a timely manner and improve their professional skills. He also gave a detailed sharing of hearing skills and trial standards.

(Tao Jingzhou, CIETAC Arbitrator delivered the speech)

Afterwards, Dr. Pan Yongfeng, Chief Judge of Civil Adjudication Tribunal No.2 of the Supreme People’s Court and Senior Judge of the Second Rank gave a professional interpretation of the newly issued Minutes of the Ninth National Courts Meeting on Civil and Commercial Adjudication Work (“Minutes of Meeting”). Judge Pan shared the jurisprudence of this Minutes of Meeting. Based on model cases, she focused on the ruling ideas for difficult and complicated company law disputes involving external guarantees, valuable adjustment mechanism, and shareholder representative actions. The morning session was hosted by Zhao Jian, Vice President of the Arbitration Court of CIETAC.

(Pan Yongfeng, Chief Judge of Civil Adjudication Tribunal No.2 of the Supreme People’s Court interpreted the Minutes of Meeting)

The second session was hosted by Gu Yan, Vice President of the Arbitration Court of CIETAC. CIETAC arbitrators Chen Min, Zhao Hang, Qi Peibing and Sun Wei spoke respectively, focusing from different perspectives on efficient and high-quality arbitration proceedings. Arbitrator Chen Min mainly talked about how to make preparation before the hearing based on his working experiences as judge and lawyers; arbitrator Zhao Hang shared how to use procedural orders in arbitration proceedings; arbitrator Qi Peibing shared his feelings and experiences from the aspect of how to draft arbitration awards; arbitrator Sun Wei mainly discussed how to deal with engineering appraisal procedure in construction cases.

(The second session was hosted by Gu Yan, Vice President of the Arbitration Court of CIETAC. CIETAC arbitrators Chen Min, Zhao Hang, Qi Peibing and Sun Wei delivered the speech respectively)

The third session was hosted by Yao Junyi, Head of Supervision and Coordination Division of CIETAC. CIETAC arbitrators Liu Junhai, Lifang, Chen Xijia focused on the discussion of arbitrators’ conflict of interest and the independence and impartiality thereof. The three arbitrators shared their feelings and experiences respectively from the perspectives of the independence and impartiality of arbitrators, how to coordinate work in arbitration proceedings and how to make disclosure for arbitrators.

(The third session was hosted by Yao Junyi, Head of Supervision and Coordination Division of CIETAC. CIETAC arbitrators Liu Junhai, Lifang, Chen Xijia delivered the speech respectively)

Last session was hosted by Zou Yonggui, Secretary of Discipline Inspection Commission of CIETAC. Li Hu, Deputy Secretary General of CIETAC illustrated the requirements to arbitrators on their professional conduct and integrity. Li Hu said that impartiality and honesty is the bottom line for arbitrators, and the purity of the arbitration team must be ensured.

(Secretary Zou Yonggui hosted the last session)

(Li Hu delivered the speech)

Vice President Zhao Jian pointed out the issues that arbitrators shall pay attention to in handling cases, and put forward opinions and suggestions from the three aspects of conducting arbitration proceedings effectively, drafting arbitral awards timely and treating the scrutinizers’ opinion properly.

(Vice President Zhao Jian delivered the speech)

At last, Secretary General Wang Chengjie made summary of the seminar, saying that the content of this seminar can be summarized as “how to be an arbitrator”. He emphasized once again that an arbitrator shall maintain professionalism, impartiality, independence and the sense of responsibility.

The seminar promoted the communication between arbitrators, which has a positive effect on the development of CIETAC and the arbitration cause.