On November 22, 2024, a seminar entitled “Opportunities and Challenges in Cross-Border Dispute Resolution” co-organized by CIETAC, Tashkent International Arbitration Center (TIAC), and the Graduate School of Business and Entrepreneurship under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan was successfully held in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. More than 120 lawyers, arbitrators, judges, scholars, and representatives of arbitration institutions from Uzbekistan, China, Russia, and Belarus attended the seminar. Nearly ten experts from China and Uzbekistan delivered speeches on topics such as the arbitration and legal systems of China and Uzbekistan, the choice of cross-border dispute resolution methods, and the prevention of legal risks for enterprises abroad. They also shared and discussed the hot topics of concern with the participants.
Gu Yan, Vice President of the Arbitration Court of CIETAC, and Diana, Director of TIAC delivered opening speeches at the seminar. In his opening speech, Vice President Gu Yan pointed out that as the two countries decided to develop an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation, China had become Uzbekistan's largest trading partner, with huge development potential in economic and trade fields. To promote cooperation in international commercial arbitration between the two sides, CIETAC signed a cooperation agreement with TIAC in 2019 and established a friendly cooperative relationship. This seminar was the specific implementation of the cooperation agreement. Vice President Gu Yan also briefly introduced the overall situation of CIETAC, the cases involving parties from countries along the Belt and Road and those involving Uzbekistan parties, and highlighted the features of CIETAC arbitration in terms of internationalization and diversity from the perspectives of the nationalities of the parties, the composition of arbitrators, the appointment of arbitrators, and the enforcement of its arbitral awards.
(Opening speech delivered by Gu Yan, Vice President of the Arbitration Court of CIETAC)
Diana, Director of TIAC expressed her welcome and gratitude for the CIETAC delegation’s visit to Tashkent and the seminar held there, and pointed out that Uzbekistan and China were friendly neighbors, and that TIAC and CIETAC were also maintaining good communication and exchange. She noted that the seminar was of great significance, as it would effectively enhance the understanding of Uzbekistan and Central Asia’s colleagues on China’s arbitration and CIETAC arbitration, and would provide a platform and window for communication on the arbitration practice between China and Uzbekistan.
(Speech delivered by Diana, Director of TIAC)
Zhou Guangjun, CIETAC arbitrator and the Managing Partner of Beijing Xindali Law Firm served as the moderator for the first session. Mr. Khasanovich MAKHMUDOV, Chairman of the Uzbekistan Arbitration Association, introduced the current status and problems in arbitration law in Uzbekistan. Ms. Lv Yan, Deputy Secretary General of the CIETAC Xiong’an Sub-Commission and Hainan Arbitration Center, introduced the basic systems and principles of arbitration in China, the revision of China’s Arbitration Law, the new developments of CIETAC’s Arbitration Rules in 2024, the construction of the arbitrators’ team, and the global network layout of CIETAC. Then, Mr. Nodir Yuldashev, Partner of Grata Law Firm, by combining specific cases and his experience, shared the common dispute resolution methods, the disputes that can be arbitrated and those that cannot be submitted for arbitration, and their legal sources in Uzbekistan. Mr. Sherzod Abdulkasimov, Partner of PraeLegal, a well-known local law firm, introduced the legal basis for China-Uzbekistan arbitration cooperation, his practical experience, the future trends, the possible challenges, and suggestions for dealing with them.
(The moderator and speakers of the first session, from left to right: Zhou Guangjun, CIETAC Arbitrator and Managing Partner of Beijing Xindali Law Firm, Khasanovich MAKHMUDOV, Chairman of Uzbekistan Arbitration Association, Lv Yan, Deputy Secretary General of the CIETAC Xiong’an Sub-Commission and Hainan Arbitration Center, Nodir Yuldashev, Partner of Grata Law Firm, and Sherzod Abdulkasimov, Partner of PraeLegal)
In the second session, Mr. Han Xueli, Deputy General Manager of China CAMCE Tashkent, introduced that as the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road Initiative with Uzbekistan entering a new stage, Chinese enterprises were playing an increasingly important role in Uzbekistan's economic activities. By October 1, 2024, the number of Chinese enterprises in Uzbekistan had reached more than 3,300. As Chinese enterprises expanded their participation in Uzbekistan’s economic development and construction, it was inevitable that they would encounter some problems and disputes related to finance, tax, contract, and labor. Therefore, this seminar was of great significance for promoting the healthy development of Chinese enterprises in Uzbekistan and promoting China-Uzbekistan economic and trade cooperation. Mr. Zhou Guangjun, CIETAC Arbitrator, shared from the perspective of a lawyer how enterprises could reduce project risks by seeking support from local governments and utilizing risk mitigation mechanisms to reach favorable arbitration clauses. Ms. Evgenia Chervets, Managing Partner of Chervets Law Firm, introduced the possible impact of economic restrictions on arbitration proceedings involving Russian parties. The last speaker, Mr. Aziz Aripjanov, Managing Partner of Azizov&Partners Law Firm, shared his experience as a lawyer representing one of the parties in Uzbekistan in successfully recognizing and enforcing a CIETAC arbitral award involving Chinese and Uzbek parties in a sales contract dispute. He emphasized the recognition of CIETAC’s means of service in the arbitration proceedings by the court and shared his insights and professional advice.
(The moderator and speakers for the second session, from left to right: Han Xueli, Deputy General Manager of CAMCE Tashkent, Malika Pulatova, TIAC Secretariat, Zhou Guangjun, CIETAC Arbitrator, Evgenia Chervets, Managing Partner of Chervets Law Firm, and Aziz Aripjanov, Managing Partner of Azizov & Partners)
The audience responded positively and engaged in lively discussions with the eight speakers, who previously shared comprehensive insights on the unique features of commercial arbitration systems in China and Uzbekistan, the challenges that Chinese and Uzbek business entities may face when conducting cross-border investment activities, and their countermeasures, and the practical experiences and risk prevention strategies for overseas compliance of enterprises based on their respective fields and practical experience.
(The seminar on site)
At the closing ceremony, Vice President Gu Yan presented the Certificate of Arbitrator to Diana, a CIETAC arbitrator with Uzbekistan nationality and Director of TIAC. The seminar was called to an end in a warm atmosphere.
(Vice President Gu Yan presented the Certificate of Arbitrator to Diana)
Zhou Guangjun, CIETAC Arbitrator, Chen Zhaohui, Secretary General of CIETAC Fujian Sub-Commission, Lv Yan, Deputy Secretary General of CIETAC Xiong’an Sub-Commission and CIETAC Hainan Arbitration Center, Zhan Ling, Case Manager of CIETAC International Case Division and Chen Yusi, Case Manager of CIETAC Domestic Case Division also attended the seminar.
During the seminar, the delegation members of CIETAC had active contacts with the enterprise representatives, arbitrators, lawyers, scholars, and legal experts who came to attend the seminar, and exchanged extensive views on the hot topics of the seminar and the practice of arbitration in China.
(Group photo of Ms. Diana, Director of TIAC, and the CIETAC delegation)
