In the bright midsummer sunshine of Vancouver, Canada, on the morning of 2 July 2018 (local time), the landing ceremony of CIETAC North America Arbitration Center (the “Center”) was held in this beautiful city, which declared the official establishment of the Center. The ceremony was co-hosted by CIETAC and Vancouver Economic Commission. Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology, Victoria, British Columbia Mr. Hon. Bruce Ralston, Minister of State for Trade Mr. Hon. George Chow, Deputy Consul General of Consulate General of the PRC in Vancouver Mr. Kong Weiwei, Commercial Counselor of Consulate General of the PRC in Vancouver Yu Shanjun, Chairman of Vancouver Maritime Arbitrators Association Dennis Pong, and other Chinese and foreign guests of nearly 160 people, including representatives from government departments, renowned experts from arbitration and legal fields, heads of large Chinese enterprises and commercial organizations, and overseas Chinese attended the ceremony. Consul General of Consulate General of the PRC in Vancouver Ms. Tong Xiaoling, Mayor of Vancouver Mr. Gregor Robertson sent their congratulatory letters.

In the ceremony, Mr. Hon. Bruce Ralston delivered a speech first. He highly praised CIETAC’s persistent efforts in providing high-quality and efficient arbitration and legal services and gaining wide recognition by the international society for over 60 years. He believed that it’s “a great honor” for British Columbia to be selected by CIETAC as the seat of its first North America headquarter. Mr. Kong Weiwei warmly congratulated on the Center as the first domestic arbitration institution registered in Vancouver. Mr. Kong pointed out that in the background of frequent international economic, trade and investment activities and economic globalization, arbitration, as an effective and convenient way to resolve international commercial disputes, is playing an increasingly important role in safeguarding international trade and investment. He expects that the Center will provide Chinese enterprises and overseas Chinese with high-quality arbitration services and make positive contributions to facilitating continuous development of China-Canada economic and trade relations. In the ceremony, Executive Director of Asia Pacific Centre Vancouver Economic Commission Ms. Joan Elangovan read the congratulation letter written by Mayor Gregor Robertson. Mr. Gregor Robertson mentioned his meeting with Mr. Wang Chengjie about the landing of CIETAC branch in Vancouver in September 2017. He pointed out that Vancouver is the gate of North America to Asia Pacific Region, as well as the major trade and shipping hub of Chinese markets. In the context of increasing trade between the two countries, the landing of the Center in Vancouver will contribute to expedited resolution of disputes so as to strengthen important bilateral trade relations. Meanwhile, he felt sincerely happy about the efficient implementation of issues discussed between the two sides. On behalf of the Vancouver Municipal Government, Mayor Gregor Robertson extended his congratulations and warm welcome to the landing of the Center.  

Mr. Wang Chengjie first expressed thanks to the Vancouver Municipal Government, Vancouver Economic Commission and local Chinese enterprises for their strong support for the establishment of the Center in his speech. He pointed out that the goal of North America Arbitration Center in Vancouver was to promote the integrative development of Chinese arbitration and international arbitration and to improve the facilitation of CIETAC arbitration service for global commercial parties. As the most representative international permanent arbitration institution in China, CIETAC endeavors to promote the development of international commercial arbitration and obtains unique advantages and rich experiences for a long time. In recent years, CIETAC has already ranked the top among international arbitration institutions in its caseload, disputed amount, and extensive coverage of parties’ nationalities, etc. Besides, CIETAC has an internationalized tank of arbitrators who are proficient in international trade and investment law and professional in resolving transnational commercial disputes. Therefore, CIETAC has the capability and resources to provide high-quality and efficient dispute resolution services for international economic and trade activities.

As the leader and driver of the development of China’s foreign-related arbitration, CIETAC has witnessed and practiced the integrative development of Chinese arbitration and international arbitration. The set up of the Center in Vancouver will help CIETAC draw on advanced ideas and practices of international arbitration, and further improve the internationalization of arbitration services. At the same time, the Center will become the window for arbitration and legal professionals in North America to know about Chinese arbitration, and the brand new platform for extensive interactions and common development for Chinese and foreign arbitration and legal communities.

Mr. Wang Chengjie also pointed out that the establishment of the Center is an inevitable choice of CIETAC’s determination to forge ahead and persistence in internationalized development for over 60 years. It marks the new stage of CIETAC’s development of internationalization, which starts from CIETAC’s practice of foreign-related arbitration in China, to exploring the implementation of “One Commission and Two Systems”, and to the set-up of CIETAC Hong Kong Arbitration Center to provide arbitration services under common law jurisdictions. CIETAC North America Arbitration Center is the first branch of Chinese arbitration institutions which is registered and officially landed in foreign countries, as well as the first step of Chinese arbitration institutions to lay out overseas branches and provide worldwide services. It is of great significance in the process of internationalization of Chinese arbitration and it will definitely inject new vitality to the development of China, North America and even international arbitration.

Finally, Mr. Wang pointed out that the landing of the Center is far from the end of the story, but a new start. He expected that the Center will provide Chinese and foreign parties in North America with fair, efficient and convenient arbitration services, and add Chinese elements with internationalized features to the local arbitration and legal community. CIETAC, together with North America and the global arbitration circles, is willing to promote the wide use of international arbitration and make positive contributions to the healthy and profound development of global economy and trade.

After the ceremony, Chinese and Canadian participants expressed their congratulations to CIETAC delegation and had group photos to mark the occasion. They hoped CIETAC to increase publicity of the institution and its arbitration systems and ideas, and sent their good wishes that the Center will have a brighter future.

As the supplementary activity of the ceremony, International Commercial Arbitration and Law Forum was held subsequently. CIETAC arbitrator and Partner of Dentons law firm Mr. David Wotherspoon, Partners of Zhong Lun law firm Ms. Li Hong, Ms. Liang Hua and Mr. Zhang Qikun respectively shared their views on subjects including risk prevention of international trade, development of international arbitration system, enforcement of international arbitral awards, and CIETAC arbitration practices. Partner of Dentons law firm and Canada-China Business Director Mr. Shao Wei chaired the interaction session of the forum and made wonderful comments.