On the afternoon of September 23, 2024, the Joint Seminar “Clients Oriented Arbitration Rules” co-hosted by the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) and the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) was successfully held in Beijing. Wang Chengjie, Deputy Director and Secretary-General of CIETAC, and Liu Xuting, Secretary-General of HKIAC, attended and delivered welcoming speeches. The Opening Ceremony was moderated by Yang Ling, Deputy Secretary-General of HKIAC.

(Seminar Venue)

Secretary-General Wang Chengjie stated in his speech that the mainland and Hong Kong are closely connected. As an international financial center, Hong Kong has unique advantages in rule of law construction and maintains close interaction and connectivity with the mainland. He pointed out that CIETAC was invited by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to establish an arbitration center in Hong Kong in 2012, with the aim of providing more solid legal support for economic and trade cooperation between the two regions. Since its establishment, CIETAC Hong Kong Arbitration Centre has been committed to promoting the exchange and cooperation of arbitration laws, making important contributions to the construction of an international legal and commercial dispute resolution center in Hong Kong. At the same time, Secretary-General Wang Chengjie reviewed the deep cooperation between CIETAC and HKIAC and elaborated in detail on CIETAC’s strategic considerations and specific measures to help Hong Kong integrate into the national development situation and promote the construction of an international legal service center from three aspects, deepening international cooperation, promoting technological innovation, and enhancing user experience. Secretary-General Wang Chengjie stated that CIETAC and HKIAC would take this Seminar as an opportunity to further deepen cooperation and seek common development, work together to promote the construction of the rule of law in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Greater Bay Area), help the Greater Bay Area achieve higher quality development goals, and jointly create a more brilliant future for the arbitration industry.

(Wang Chengjie, Deputy Director and Secretary-General of CIETAC, gave an opening address)

Liu Xuting, Secretary-General of HKIAC, reviewed the profound history and cooperation between CIETAC and HKIAC and shared the latest progress and achievements of HKIAC in the field of arbitration services.

(Liu Xuting, Secretary-General of HKIAC, gave an opening address)

This Seminar consisted of three parts, Institutional Dialogue, Group Discussion, and Group Debate. The Institutional Dialogue Session, with the theme of “How Arbitration Institutions Respond to User Needs”, was moderated by Bi Liyan, Director of the Legal Department of China Metallurgical Group Corporation. Liu Xuting, Secretary-General of HKIAC, and Xie Changqing, Vice President of CIETAC Arbitration Court, had in-depth exchanges and discussions on the characteristics and practical considerations of the new rules of HKIAC and CIETAC, the internal appointment considerations and procedures of the presiding (sole) arbitrator, how to understand and apply consolidated arbitration, multi-contract arbitration, additional contract procedures, and how to strive for more favorable arbitration clauses in commercial negotiations.

(From left to right, Ms. Bi Liyan, Ms. Liu Xuting, Ms. Xie Changqing)

The second Session was a Group Discussion with the theme of “Arbitration of Multiple Contracts and Parties”, moderated by Dong Xiao, Council Member of HKIAC and Partner of Junhe Law Firm. Lu Fei, Director of the Development Department of CIETAC, Lu Song, Professor of China Foreign Affairs University and Independent Arbitrator, Li Zhiyong, General Counsel of China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd. (CSCEC) International Operations, and Wu Zhenhui, Queen’s Counsel of Temple Chambers, shared their experiences from multiple perspectives on possible challenges in composition of tribunal, considerations behind the new CIETAC rules, special considerations for reviewing arbitration awards in such cases, and factors to consider when drafting arbitration clauses involving multiple contracts and parties.

(From left to right, Mr. Dong Xiao, Ms. Lu Fei, Mr. Lu Song, Mr. Li Zhiyong, Mr. Wu Zhenhui)

The Group Debate Session was moderated by Ma Jun, President of Beijing International Commercial Court. Dong Chungang, Council Member of HKIAC and Partners of Jingtian & Gongcheng Law Firm, Jin Liyu, Director of Wuqi Law Firm, Luo Minxian, Senior Counsel of Des Voeux Chambers, and Ma Tianyu, International Legal Advisor of Rajah & Tann Law Firm, were invited to jointly debate on “The Independence and Impartiality System of Arbitrators, A Comprehensive Analysis from a High Perspective v. Make a Careful and Detailed Analysis”.

As one of the important events held in Beijing after the official opening of the 12th China Arbitration Week, this Seminar not only deepened extensive exchanges and cooperation in the field of arbitration but also demonstrated the determination of CIETAC and HKIAC to improve the quality of arbitration services and accurately meet the needs of parties. The Seminar received strong support from Des Voeux Chambers, Jingtian & Gongcheng Law Firm, Junhe Law Firm, Rajah & Tann Law Firm, Temple Chambers, and Shanghai Wuqi Law Firm, and attracted more than 120 arbitrators, lawyers, scholars, corporate legal professionals, and participants from various fields from Canada, Russia, France, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and other places. Participants expressed that the Seminar not only provided them with a valuable platform for exchanging ideas and sharing experiences but also played a positive role in promoting the development of international commercial arbitration.