On November 20, 2025, the seminar themed “The Latest Hot Issues about International Commercial Arbitration: Focus on Canada and China Practices”, jointly organized by China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) and Vancouver Maritime Arbitration Association (VMAA), was successfully held in Vancouver, Canada. The event was organized by CIETAC North America Arbitration Center and received substantial support from Canada International Trade Promotion Society, Canadian Community Service Association, United Jiangxi Business Council of Canada, Sino-Can Sichuan Business Council, Hebei Chamber of Commerce in Canada, and Canada Shandong Chinese Business Association. The seminar attracted over 100 participants from the legal, academic, and business communities of both China and Canada.

(A moment during the seminar.)

(Wang Chengjie, Secretary-General of CIETAC, delivers opening remarks.)

At the outset of the seminar, JJ McIntyre, Chairman of the VMAA and CIETAC Arbitrator, and Wang Chengjie, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of CIETAC, delivered welcome remarks. Chairman JJ McIntyre welcomed the joint hosting of the seminar in Vancouver and noted that the collaboration has built a high-quality platform for exchange and cooperation between the Chinese and Canadian arbitration communities. Secretary-General Wang Chengjie pointed out that CIETAC has always attached great importance to in-depth cooperation with the North American arbitration and legal community. He briefed on the establishment of CIETAC North America Arbitration Center in Vancouver in 2018 and its long-standing cooperative relationship with VMAA. Over the years, the two institutions have consistently co-organized series of events during the “China Arbitration Week”, developing a practical and efficient platform for professional exchange. Secretary-General Wang Chengjie noted that with the continuous deepening of China-Canada economic and trade cooperation and the growing number of cross-border commercial disputes, the expectations for professionalism and efficiency in dispute resolution mechanisms are increasing. He stated that CIETAC is enhancing its services through rule innovation, strengthening its panel of arbitrators, integrating diverse dispute resolution mechanisms, expanding its global service network, and promoting digital and intelligent upgrades. He also briefed on the positive enforcement status of CIETAC arbitral awards in Canada in recent years, expressing that CIETAC would take this seminar as an opportunity to further deepen exchanges with the North American arbitration and legal community.

(Chair JJ McIntyre delivering opening remarks.)

The panel discussion titled “Comparative Perspectives: China-Canada Approaches to International Arbitration” was moderated by Liang Hua, Vice Chairperson of VMAA and CIETAC Arbitrator. The panelists included JJ McIntyre, Chairman of VMAA and CIETAC Arbitrator; Peter Swanson, Founding Partner of Bernard LLP and CIETAC Arbitrator; Lu Yahan, Deputy Director of the Intellectual Property Dispute Resolution Division of CIETAC; and Cheng Jie, Associate Dean of Graduate Programs at the Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia. The panelists engaged in discussions on a wide range of topics, including “The Impact of Tariffs in Arbitration”, “The Enforcement of Agreements to Arbitrate in Canada”, “Recent Development of Arbitration Practice under the Backdrop of Digital Economy”, and “Potential Role of the China International Commerce Court as A New Type of Arbitration Institution”. The discussion centered on a comparative analysis of the two arbitration systems, grounded in practical expertise. This exchange yielded profound, multi‑perspective insights for all participants.

 (Panelists (in the following order): Chair JJ McIntyre, Deputy Director Lu Yahan, Associate Dean Cheng Jie, Bernard LLP Founding Partner Peter Swanson.)

(Liang Hua, moderator of the seminar.)

Following the event, participants widely commented that the seminar enhanced their understanding of China’s arbitration system and CIETAC’s practices, and expressed expectation for more diversified and substantive cooperation with CIETAC.  The seminar not only provided a valuable platform for professional exchange between the Chinese and Canadian arbitration communities, but also strengthened the international community’s understanding of CIETAC’s arbitration practice, promoting mutual learning between the two countries in the field of international commercial arbitration.

During its visit to Canada, the CIETAC delegation also met with representatives of Bernard LLP for discussions. Through the exchange, the Canadian legal community gained further insight into CIETAC’s latest developments in case management, the professional development of its arbitrators and case manager team, and international arbitration cooperation. They spoke highly of CIETAC’s achievements in impartially and efficiently resolving international commercial disputes and advancing international arbitration exchanges.

(The CIETAC delegation visits Bernard LLP)

To deepen exchange and cooperation with the North American arbitration community, CIETAC established North America Arbitration Center in Vancouver in 2018. As the first international branch officially registered by a Chinese arbitration institution, the Center serves as a significant milestone in the internationalization of Chinese arbitration and its service to global parties. It has injected new vitality into promoting arbitration interaction and cooperation between China and North America and beyond. Moving forward, CIETAC will continue to leverage this important platform to enhance collaboration with arbitration institutions, legal communities, and the business sectors in North America, providing global parties with more professional, efficient, and trustworthy international arbitration services.

(CIETAC launched its North America Arbitration Center in 2018.)