On April 14, 2025, the AIAC × Ciarb Malaysia ASEAN Conference 2025  was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Arbitration legal experts from ASEAN member states and countries in Asia-Pacific jointly exchanged views on the changes and development of dispute resolution systems in ASEAN and Asia-Pacific, the settlement of topical disputes involving ASEAN, and the training of the next generation of arbitrators . Lu Fei, Director of the Business Development Division of the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) , was invited to attend the discussion of Session 1 remotely.

(From left to right: Crystal Wong Wai Chin, Chairman of Ciarb Malaysia ; Mahesh Rai, Member of Ciarb Singapore and Director of Drew & Napier ; Dato’ Mary Lim Thiam Suan, Director of AIAC ; Dr. Ong Kian Ming, Former Deputy Minister of Investment Trade and Industry, Malaysia ; Lu Fei, Director of the Business Development Division of CIETAC.)

The first session was about “ASEAN Arbitration at a Turning Point - Disruption, Reform and the BRI Factors” . In view of the increasing number of economic and trade disputes in recent years as a result of the deepening of economic and trade exchanges between China and ASEAN under the BRI, Lu Fei pointed out the geographic distribution of cases accepted by CIETAC, in particular cases involving parties from Southeast Asian countries. Besides, she analyzed the choice of dispute resolution systems and the choice of arbitration institutions and seats through the situation of Chinese enterprises going global, and also made relevant recommendations to enhance the attractiveness of ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific region as seats of arbitration. 

The exchange at this conference effectively promoted mutual understanding between the legal and arbitration communities of China and ASEAN countries, and enhanced mutual trust and consensus for the synergistic development of arbitration mechanisms between China and ASEAN countries. In the future, CIETAC will endeavour to build a dispute resolution service system with all parties that better meets the market demand of ASEAN countries, and promote the sustained and healthy development of economic and trade exchanges between China and ASEAN countries.