From March 17 to 19, 2025, Xie Changqing, Vice President of the Arbitration Court of the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC), led a delegation to Rome and Milan, Italy, accompanying Ren Hongbin, President of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), as part of a Chinese entrepreneurs' delegation. The visit aimed to conduct a series of economic and trade promotion activities and arbitration law exchange initiatives.

On the afternoon of March 18, the CIETAC Delegation attended the China-Italy Economic and Trade Forum and the 3rd CIIE Promotion Conference. The event was addressed by President Ren Hongbin, Mario Boselli, President of the Italy-China Council Foundation; Alessandro Doninotti, Secretary-General of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA); and Liu Kan, Consul General of China in Milan. Over 200 representatives from trade and investment promotion agencies, industry associations, and enterprises from both countries participated in the event, and several cooperation agreements were signed on-site between Chinese and Italian institutions and businesses.

Vice President Xie Changqing delivered a speech titled "Leveraging Arbitration's Professional Advantages to Safeguard the Healthy Development of China-Italy Economic and Trade Cooperation." She emphasized that as China-Italy economic and trade collaboration deepens, there is an urgent need for efficient, convenient, impartial, and professional cross-border arbitration services to provide legal safeguards. While advancing economic cooperation, she urged business communities in both countries to strengthen communication with arbitration and legal professionals to better understand differences in legal frameworks, prioritize risk management in transactions and dispute resolution, and properly address potential disputes. She further called for enhanced exchanges and cooperation between arbitration and legal communities in both nations to align rules and institutional frameworks, thereby delivering arbitration services tailored to the dispute resolution needs of businesses. Over its 70-year history, CIETAC has adhered to its mission of serving global market entities, continuously innovating and refining its rules and practices. This has forged CIETAC's distinctive advantages, earning widespread trust and support from international arbitration users. CIETAC aims to collaborate with business and legal communities to establish a robust legal foundation for bilateral economic exchanges and jointly advance the steady growth of China-Italy economic and trade cooperation.

During her visit to Italy, Vice President Xie Changqing of the Arbitration Court at the CIETAC, accompanied by President REN Hongbin of the CCPIT, met with Adolfo Urso, Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy of Italy, and Andrea Prete, President of the Italian Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Crafts and Agriculture (Unioncamere).

The delegation of the CIETAC engaged in in-depth exchanges with the local arbitration and legal communities:

On the morning of March 17, the CIETAC Delegation visited the Rome Bar Association (RBA). The delegation was received by Ms. Maria Agnino, Vice President of the RBA, and Mr. Alessandro Graziani, Secretary-General of the RBA. Also present at the meeting were First Secretary Wang Xiao and Second Secretary Shao Mingli from the Chinese Embassy in Italy, along with Mr. Xu Zhongliang, partner of YK LAW Avvocati S.R.L. (Rome Office of Yingke Law Firm), and Mr. Alessandro De Luca, another partner of the same firm .During the meeting, Mr. Alessandro Graziani shared insights on the RBA's historical background, organizational structure, development of arbitration representation services, and the origins of Italy's arbitration system . Vice President Xie Changqing of CIETAC emphasized that the advancement of arbitration relies heavily on robust legal support. She noted that a virtuous cycle exists between a favorable arbitration environment and the professional development of lawyers, where both fields mutually reinforce and promote growth. She further highlighted that the deepening Sino-Italian economic and trade cooperation presents new opportunities and challenges for legal professionals in both countries. CIETAC expressed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the RBA, enhancing mutual understanding, and expanding arbitration-related legal services to provide solid legal support for bilateral commercial prosperity .Following the discussions, the CIETAC delegation, accompanied by staff members, visited the Supreme Court of Cassation (Corte Suprema di Cassazione) in Rome, the highest appellate court in Italy, housed in the iconic Palace of Justice .

On the morning of March 18, the CIETAC Delegation visited the Dentons Milan Office and hosted the "Symposium on the Development and Practice of Sino-Italian Arbitration". Mr. Bai Junyi, Partner at Dentons, delivered the welcome speech, while Mr. Roberto Fabio Lipari, Head of Dispute Resolution at Dentons Milan Office, moderated the event. Representatives from enterprises, in-house counsels, and legal professionals participated either on-site or online. During the symposium, Vice President Xie Changqing highlighted CIETAC’s distinctive advantages, including its advanced arbitration rules, internationally diverse panel of arbitrators, efforts to integrate Chinese and Western arbitration systems and practices, and the application of smart arbitration technologies to enhance efficiency. Mr. Cui Yang, Deputy Secretary-General of CIETAC European Center, and Mr. Liu Zhihong, Case Handler of the Domestic Cases Division of CIETAC, shared insights on the 2024 CIETAC Arbitration Rules and the recognition and enforcement of foreign-related arbitral awards in China, respectively. Participants actively engaged in discussions, demonstrating strong interest in CIETAC’s latest developments. They gained a comprehensive understanding of China’s judicial support for arbitration and praised CIETAC’s achievements in resolving international commercial disputes impartially and efficiently, as well as its role in fostering global arbitration collaboration. Many expressed hopes for enhanced platforms for future exchanges and cooperation.

On the morning of March 19, CIETAC, in collaboration with the CCPIT-CCOIC Representative Office in Italy, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Italy (CCCI) , and LCA Studio Legale, jointly organized a seminar titled "Legal Risk Prevention and Dispute Resolution for Chinese Enterprises Going Global." Nearly 20 representatives from local Chinese-funded enterprises attended the event. Yao Lujie, Chief Representative of the CCPIT-CCOIC Representative Office in Italy, and Wang Hong, Secretary-General of the CCCI, delivered opening remarks. The seminar was moderated by Sara Mora, Partner at LCA Studio Legale .Keynote speeches were given by: Vice President Xie Changqing: "Arrangement of Arbitration Clauses and Risk Control in Dispute Resolution" ;Sara Marchetta, CIETAC Arbitrator (Italy): "Pre-litigation Procedures, Settlement, and Corporate Strategies in Arbitration" ;Gian Paolo Coppola, Partner at LCA Studio Legale: "Dispute Resolution and Geopolitics: Choice of Forum, Enforcement, and Asset Recovery" ;Andrea Carreri, Partner at FDI Law Firm: "Golden Power Regulations and Chinese Investors: A New Era Approaches". Participants responded enthusiastically, stating that the seminar deepened their understanding of arbitration as a dispute resolution mechanism. They expressed hope that CIETAC would provide more training opportunities to enhance legal risk prevention capabilities and play a greater role in supporting Chinese enterprises' global expansion .

On the afternoon of March 19, the CIETAC Delegation visited the Chamber of National and International Arbitration of Milan (CAM), where they were received by Mr. Stefano Azzali, General Director of CAM. Both sides reviewed their previous productive exchanges and cooperation, and exchanged updates on their respective latest developments in areas such as case management practices, informatization development and application, innovations in rules, arbitrator panel development, and international exchanges and cooperation. In light of the current complex and volatile international environment, they expressed a shared willingness to strengthen institutionalized collaboration on the existing foundation, jointly promote the advancement of arbitration practices, and foster the convergence of international arbitration.

Cui Yang, Deputy Secretary-General of the CIETAC European Arbitration Center, and Liu Zhihong, Case Manager of the CIETAC Domestic Cases Division, accompanied them in the relevant activities.