On June 14, 2025 during the unveiling ceremony of the China-Africa Arbitration Center of the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) and the convening of the China-Africa Arbitration International Cooperation Conference in Changsha, CIETAC and Xiangtan University jointly organized a symposium on international cooperation and communication regarding China-Africa arbitration. Heads of relevant international organizations, such as the African Arbitration Association, the African Arbitration Promotion Association, the International Federation of Commercial Arbitration Institutions, and the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO) Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Center, as well as representatives from 10 countries, including South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Côted'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Algeria, and Libya, attended the symposium. Furthermore, over 40 representatives from national and regional arbitration institutions, university scholars, arbitrators, mediators, legal experts, and Chinese professionals attended the event as well. Wang Chengjie, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of CIETAC, and Liao Yong'an, President of Xiangtan University, delivered their respective speeches while Liu Jingang, Vice President of Xiangtan University, presided over the symposium.

(Venue of the Symposium)

President Liao Yong'an delivered a meaningful welcome speech and highlighted the historical evolution, disciplinary construction, and research achievements of Xiangtan University in relation to the cooperation between China and Africa. He stated that Xiangtan University has long been dedicated to the study of China-Africa relations and has achieved successful results in areas such as African law and China Africa economic and trade legal cooperation. He remarked his hopes for the upcoming examinations and discussions to be an opportunity that further strengthens cooperation with all parties in the field of arbitration and for further contributions of  wisdom and strength on promoting communications between China and Africa.

(Welcome speech delivered by President Liao Yong'an)

Secretary General Wang Chengjie highly affirmed the effective work of Xiangtan University in cultivating foreign-related legal talents, as well as its outstanding contributions to the construction of the rule of law, government, and foreign-related legal construction in Hunan Province. He pointed out that Xiangtan University was personally initiated by Chairman Mao Zedong, who had a strong special affection for the African people. He later emphasized that inviting friends from African to this symposium is of great historical significance. Entering a new era, General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to the work in Africa and personally plans and lays out the layout. In the context of increasingly close and deepening economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa, especially the current global landscape, holding a symposium with the intention of strengthening China-Africa arbitration and rule of law cooperation holds important practical significance. Wang further described the symposium as a continuation of the unveiling ceremony of the previous day’s CIETAC China-Africa Trial Center and the convening of the China Africa Arbitration International Cooperation Conference. He concluded noting that it is practically necessary to meet the needs of the times and safeguard the healthy and stable development of China-Africa economic and trade with the power of the rule of law.

(Secretary General Wang Chengjie delivers the speech)

Secretary General Wang Chengjie stated that CIETAC attaches great importance to communicating the arbitration rule of law with Africa and has made meaningful progress in this regard. First, CIETAC has signed cooperation agreements with major arbitration institutions in Africa and established institutionalized communication mechanisms; Second, it has conducted extensive communications in Africa multiple times to promote the process of China Africa arbitration legal cooperation; Third, CIETAC will actively build platforms, such as the China Middle-East North-Africa Summit Forum, the China-Africa Arbitration International Cooperation Conference, and the establishment of the CIETAC China Africa Trial Center, to promote China-Africa arbitration cooperation into practice.

Based on the purpose of promoting communication between China and Africa in rule of law and strengthening cooperation between academia and arbitration legal practice, Secretary General Wang Chengjie proposes three suggestions. First, it is important to rely on the resources and expertise from universities, explore effective models of industry-university-research integration, strengthen international legal research, and actively participate in international governance. Second, CIETAC will strengthen specific research on African law, build an application think tank platform, and provide strong professional support for arbitration and other diversified dispute resolution services with precise legal expertise, targeting the diverse legal characteristics of African countries. Third, at the talent level, efforts will be made to create courses such as arbitration practice and national law, accelerate the cultivation of professional talents who are proficient in Chinese and African law and familiar with arbitration affairs, create a composite talent matrix related to the rule of law in Africa, and promote vitality into China Africa arbitration cooperation.

Subsequently, Professor Li Shichun, Principal of Xiangtan University Law School and Professor Hong Yonghong, Dean of the China-Africa Institute for Business and Law of Xiangtan University, introduced the development of Xiangtan University Law School and its achievements in African law research. Gaston KENFACK DOUAJNI, President of the AfAA and APAA and Council Member of IFCAI, gave a brief introduction to the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) and expressed his vision for arbitration cooperation between China and Africa. 

(From left to right: Professor Li Shichun, Professor Hong Yonghong, and Chairman Gaston KENFACK DOUAJNI)

Chinese and foreign guests also engaged in active and thorough discussions on specific mechanisms for China Africa arbitration cooperation and the cultivation of arbitration talents. All parties reached a broad consensus in promoting the development of arbitration in China and Africa, strengthening legal practice research, and cultivating practical international legal talents in the future.

Members participating in the symposium include Fu Danzhou, Vice President of the CCPIT Hunan Sub-Council, Guo Yiheng, Minister of the Legal Department of CCPIT Sub-Council, Lu Fei, Director of CIETAC Business Development Division, and Wu Shaoxuan, Deputy Director of the Working Department of the Committee.

(Secretary General Wang Chengjie and his delegation with attending Chinese and foreign guests)

Before the meeting, Secretary General Wang Chengjie and his delegation visited the campus of Xiangtan University with Chinese and foreign parties.