2025 was a pivotal year in China’s development as an emerging seat for international commercial arbitration. China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (“CIETAC”) pursued its objective of becoming a benchmark for world-class arbitration institution guided by its development philosophy, driven by digital and intelligent empowerment and oriented towards meeting the evolving needs of domestic and international parties. It reinforced institutional safeguards for independence and impartiality, and continued to enhance the quality, efficiency and credibility of arbitration services. These efforts supported steady institutional development, strengthened CIETAC’s international engagement and influence, and contributed to the broader advancement of foreign-related legal services, participation in global governance, and China’s high-standard opening-up.

I. 2025 Work Report

1. Historic Record and New Breakthrough

(1) Disputed amount exceeded RMB 200 billion for the first time, reaching a new historic high. In 2025, CIETAC accepted 5,736 new cases, with an aggregate amount in dispute of RMB 228.6 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 20.98%. The total amount in dispute surpassed RMB 100 billion for the eighth consecutive year.

The average amount in dispute per case reached RMB 39.85 million (a year on year increase of 26.8%). 806 foreign-related cases were accepted (a year on year increase of 6.33%). The total disputed amount of foreign-related cases was RMB 88.075 billion (a year-on-year increase of 8.57%), with an average dispute value of RMB 109 million per case (a year-on-year increase of 2.1%). 4,930 domestic cases were accepted, involving RMB 140.528 billion in dispute (a year-on-year increase of 30.32%). There were 277 cases with an amount in dispute exceeding RMB 100 million, an increase of 18.4%, including 28 cases with an amount exceeding RMB 1 billion. Cases in process totaled 4,615, while 6,003 cases were concluded (a year-on-year increase of 20.35%). 149 domain name dispute cases were accepted, representing a year-on-year increase of 34.23%, with 135 concluded (a year-on-year increase of 31.07%).

Overall, the aggregate amount in dispute demonstrated strong growth, with a significant increase in large and complex cases. Caseload remained at a high level, the degree of internationalization continued to increase, significantly more multi-contracts disputes were accepted, and complex and high-value commercial transactions became more prominent. Case structure was further optimized, while case management quality and efficiency continued to improve. Professional service capacity and administration effectiveness were comprehensively enhanced, further strengthening CIETAC’s attractiveness, competitiveness, and influence as a forum for the diversified resolution of commercial disputes. CIETAC has increasingly become a preferred dispute resolution institution trusted and selected by domestic and international parties.

(2) Significant Increase in International Dimension of Cases

A. Record expansion in geographical coverage

Cases accepted in 2025 involved 97 countries and regions, an increase of 4 compared with 2024, with parties from 77 countries and regions. The top ten most frequently involved countries and regions in foreign-related cases were: Hong Kong SAR of China, the United States, Russia, Germany, Singapore, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Italy, Indonesia, and China’s Taiwan region. Since 2019, CIETAC has added cases involving 37 new countries and regions. Since its establishment, CIETAC cases have involved 170 countries and regions, further expanding its service coverage for global commercial entities.

B. Distinct international characteristics of proceedings

There were 82 international cases where both parties were non-Chinese, representing a year-on-year increase of 10.8%, with a total amount in dispute of RMB 1.689 billion. A total of 126 cases adopted English or bilingual Chinese–English, Russian or bilingual Chinese–Russian as the language of arbitration, representing an increase of 18.87%. In several cases, arbitral tribunals determined, based on specific circumstances, to change the language of arbitration from Chinese to English.

In 104 cases, parties agreed on applicable laws or international conventions, representing a year-on-year increase of 173.68%. These included, among others, the laws of the United States, the State of California (U.S.), the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Russia, Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, Pakistan, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Cayman Islands, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong SAR of China, and China’s Taiwan region. Among these, 51 applied the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG), and 17 applied the Incoterms® 2000 or Incoterms® 2010. In addition, the Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air (the Montreal Convention) was also applied in relevant proceedings.

In 41 cases, the parties made specific agreements regarding the nationality of the presiding arbitrator. Foreign arbitrator from jurisdictions including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and New Zealand were appointed on 155 occasions as arbitrators in 143 cases. 

Foreign-related elements represent the most prominent features of CIETAC’s arbitration service. There were 1,854 cases involving foreign-invested enterprises (a year-on-year increase of 6.9%), with a total amount in dispute of RMB 61.65 billion. Overall, 46% of all cases accepted during the year are significantly foreign-related, demonstrating CIETAC’s professional capacity in international arbitration service.

C. Arbitration supporting the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)

In 2025, CIETAC accepted 455 cases involving the “Belt and Road” countries, continuing an upward trend and representing an increase of 18% year on year. The total amount in dispute reached RMB 12.677 billion, with parties from 56 countries and regions. 425 cases involved key BRI regions, including BRICS countries, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, ASEAN, Central Asia, Latin America, and Africa, with an aggregate amount in dispute of RMB 8.687 billion.

Since the launch of the BRI, CIETAC has accepted 3,826 BRI-related cases, involving a total amount in dispute of RMB 217.937 billion. 328 cases involved disputed amounts exceeding RMB 100 million. These cases involved parties came from 113 countries and regions and covered disputes arising from construction and engineering, sale of goods, industrial raw materials, electromechanical equipment, equity investment, finance, and service contracts related to BRI trade and investment activities. The variety of jurisdictions and industry sectors involved demonstrates the importance of arbitration to support the orderly resolution of cross-border commercial disputes and to provide legal certainty for the BRI.

(3) Diversity of types of dispute

Cases accepted in 2025 covered more than 70 subcategories across 12 major categories, including construction and engineering, sale of goods, finance, corporate and enterprise governance, service, leasing, agency, intellectual property, cultural and entertainment industries, real estate, environmental protection, and low-carbon sectors. A high proportion of cases arose from key areas such as construction engineering, natural resources, electromechanical equipment, international trade, financial lending, private lending, private equity funds, equity investment and repurchase, and various service contracts. Cases in the fields of finance and agency increased by approximately 30%. In ESG-related disputes, anti-commercial bribery clauses, integrity clauses, and corporate governance issues emerged as new areas of focus.

Notably, the growing volume of disputes in frontier and technology-driven sectors underscores the adaptability of arbitration to modern commercial transactions. With its experience and expertise, CIETAC has been advancing initiatives to better integrate dispute resolution services into industrial ecosystems, with a focus on providing effective and impartial arbitration services for disputes under evolving commercial models.

Specifically: 

i. Disputes in frontier technology sectors, including robotics, autonomous driving, intelligent unmanned systems, open-source software, and semiconductors, expanded in the context of ongoing technological and industrial transformation. At the same time, arbitration services increasingly addressed complex disputes involving innovation-driven enterprises, particularly in investment and financing, intellectual property, technology transfer, and cross-border research and development collaboration.

ii. Disputes in the new energy vehicle industry increased remarkably, encompassing the entire industrial chain—from manufacturing of core components such as batteries and mold development, to vehicle production, technical cooperation, and further to sales and export, distribution arrangements, and subsidy compliance.

iii. The deep transformation brought about by the digital economy generated a growing number of disputes involving cross-border e-commerce, cross-border digital product transactions, cloud services, digital assets, and digital music, presenting both new opportunities and challenges for the resolution of digital economy-related disputes.

iv. With the development of strategic emerging industries such as aerospace and the low-altitude economy, disputes involving aircraft asset disposal, aircraft financing leasing, maintenance and management, international air cargo transportation, cargo damage insurance claims, and airport construction became increasingly prominent. These cases were characterized by high complexity, cross-sectoral features, strong international elements, and advanced technical specialization.

v. Corporate governance disputes remained as high incidence area of commercial disputes, characterized by extremely large amounts in dispute, high sensitivity, multiple stakeholders, and complex legal relationships. Disputes concerning equity investment and repurchase, corporate control, shareholders’ right to information, actual capital contributions, major asset disposals, directors’ and senior management’s duties of care and loyalty, and non-compete obligations continued to increase, attracting significant public attention and demonstrating notable precedential effects.

(4) Arbitral awards widely recognized and enforced in multiple jurisdictions

CIETAC arbitral awards continued to receive recognition from domestic and international parties. According to preliminary statistics, in 2025, at least 16 arbitral awards were completely enforced in 10 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, the Republic of Korea, and Pakistan, significantly enhancing the credibility of CIETAC and Chinese arbitration.

In practice, CIETAC and arbitral tribunals provided support to parties in overcoming challenges related to the enforcement of awards in foreign jurisdictions. This included submitting certifications of award authenticity and clarifying procedural requirements to courts in countries such as Spain, Morocco, and Panama, and assisting with notarization and Hague Apostille processes. These measures facilitated the effective recognition and enforcement of CIETAC awards and ensured comprehensive procedural support throughout the arbitration process. 

(5) International Standing and Benchmarking

According to the International Arbitration Survey, following CIETAC’s recognition in 2021 as one of the world’s five most preferred international arbitration institutions, CIETAC Arbitration Rules were again recognized in 2025—alongside the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules—as among the world’s top five most preferred arbitration rules. CIETAC became the only arbitration institution in mainland China to be listed simultaneously among the world’s top five most preferred arbitration institutions and the top five most preferred arbitration rules. This recognition shows that CIETAC continues to maintain the leading position within the global arbitration community, shows its credibility in international arbitration, and contributes to enhancing the voice and influence of Chinese arbitration in the global dispute resolution framework.

2. Comprehensive Optimization of Case Management and Further Enhancement of Arbitration Service Efficiency

(1) More efficient and streamlined case management

A. Enhancement in procedural administration

In 2025, while fully respecting party autonomy, a total of5,392 cases completed tribunal constitution. 8,600 appointments/nominations of arbitrators were made, including 2,056 appointments involving 230 female arbitrators. In 44 cases, the parties agreed to appoint arbitrators outside the Panel of Arbitrators. In 140 cases, the parties specified the method for the appointment of presiding arbitrator. In a number of cases, the parties agreed during the proceedings to alternative appointment mechanisms, including joint appointment by arbitrators, party-recommended shortlists, and nomination by the Chairman of CIETAC, for the selection of presiding or sole arbitrators.

65 decisions on arbitrator challenges/refusals to challenge were made, and 52 consultations were handled concerning disclosures and potential conflicts of interest against arbitral tribunals. A total of 5,964 hearings were held throughout the year, and 6,213 draft awards were reviewed, with the award scrutiny mechanism remained an important safeguard for the quality of arbitral awards.

In 2025, CIETAC convened 14 expert consultation meetings to review 26 complex and difficult cases, providing professional advisory opinions to arbitral tribunals. Under the 2024 CIETAC Arbitration Rules, arbitral tribunals are, upon constitution, granted general authority to decide on jurisdictional matters, further aligning CIETAC practice with the internationally recognized principle of competence-competence. Except for 29 jurisdictional decisions rendered by CIETAC, the majority of jurisdictional objections were resolved efficiently and professionally by arbitral tribunals.

(2) Effectively addressing parties’ demands and resolving disputes in an efficient and cost-effective manner through consolidated approaches. In 2025, 1,344 new cases involving multiple contracts were accepted, accounting for 23.4% of the total caseload. One of the cases involved as many as 69 contracts. Additionally, 29 cases invoked the “Adding Contracts” provision under the Arbitration Rules, with one notable case adding 1,199 contracts. A total of 71 consolidations of arbitration were handled, including one instance where 20 separate cases were consolidated into a single proceeding. Furthermore, 1,112 cases involved multiple parties, marking a 6.4% year-on-year increase and representing 19.4% of the total caseload. One of the cases involved 24 parties. Moreover, 36 cases involved the joinder of additional parties, marking a 36.8% increase compared to the previous year. The institutional arrangements for multi-contract and multi-party cases under CIETAC’s updated Arbitration Rules facilitate the one-time resolution of interconnected disputes arising from modern commercial transactions such as large-scale infrastructure projects, group transactions, multi-round investment and financing, linked financial products, and long-term supply chain cooperation. These arrangements better align with users’ core demands for high-efficiency and low-cost dispute resolution.

(3) Seamless Integration of Arbitration and Mediation: Applying the “Oriental Experience” to Dispute Resolution. Leveraging its pioneering combination of arbitration and mediation mechanism, CIETAC actively encouraged arbitral tribunals to facilitate amicable settlements on the premise of respecting the wishes of the parties concerned, truly achieving the ideal outcome of “resolving the case, settling the matter, and reconciling the parties”. In 2025, 22% of concluded cases were settled through mediation. Notable practices included coordinated mediations across multiple cases, multiple parties and/or multiple arbitrators; pre-arbitration mediation in which parties proactively initiating mediation through CIETAC’s Mediation Center prior to arbitration; and cross-border online mediation. These efforts significantly reduced arbitration resources as well as parties’ dispute resolution costs, continuing to contribute intelligent solutions with Chinese characteristics to international arbitration.

(4) Deepening Core Professional Competencies to Precisely Address Complex Challenges. CIETAC properly handled major cases with high controversy, complex procedures, and significant public attention. Drawing on its accumulated experience in sophisticated case management and professional expertise, CIETAC orderly addressed challenges caused by practical issues such as audit appraisals, investigation and evidence collection, on-site inspections, parallel proceedings, intersection of criminal and civil matters, interplay between bankruptcy and arbitration, the impact of overseas bankruptcy reorganization proceedings on arbitration, service on detained parties, and party changes due to succession, dissolution, or division of legal personality. These experiences provided robust professional support to ensure the efficiency in complex cases.

2. Flourishing International and Innovative Practices

(1) Actively exploring the use of interim measures, with multiple cases efficiently enforced overseas. Following the issuance of CIETAC’s first interim measures decision in 2024, which was subsequently recognized and enforced by the courts of the Hong Kong SAR and the Cayman Islands. The court of the Cayman Islands noted that the interim measure was “a standard remedy issued by a reputable international arbitration institution following an adversarial procedure with full party participation, aimed at preserving the arbitral process and preventing new disputes before final award”. In 2025, parties filed four new interim measures applications. Two of these resulted in tribunal-issued decisions that were swiftly enforced by the Hong Kong SAR courts, demonstrating strong international recognition of CIETAC’s innovative practices and international services.

(2) The Emergency Arbitrator Procedures were further applied. In 2025, the Emergency Arbitrator procedures were used in four cases, bringing the cumulative total to 10 cases to date. This mechanism fills a critical gap by enabling parties to obtain urgent relief from the arbitral procedure even before the tribunal is constituted, serving as a vital tool for safeguarding legitimate rights of the parties.

(3) Arbitral tribunals continued to employ procedural tools such as procedural orders, questionnaires, timetables, terms of reference, pre-hearing conferences, and Redfern Schedules to examine cases. Depending on the needs of each case, tribunals made professional and efficient procedural arrangements regarding the application of laws, document exchange and disclosure, witness and expert testimony, hearing formats, and interpretation/ transcription services. Overseas witnesses and experts from jurisdictions including the United States, Germany, Brazil, Russia, Zambia, India, Malaysia, and the Hong Kong SAR appeared in the oral hearings for testimony or cross-examination, enriching the hearing practices of civil law, common law, and the integration of different legal systems.

(4) The 2024 Arbitration Rules provide parties with a more extensive procedural “toolkit”. In 7 cases in 2025, parties filed applications for early dismissal. After review, tribunals rendered decisions or awards to reject, dismiss, or support such applications in a timely manner, properly addressing related disputes at an early stage by applying the new rules and drawing on international practices to appropriately grasp the essence of early dismissal procedures. Upon parties’ requests, CIETAC forwarded applications for property preservation to overseas courts in Thailand, Panama, the Hong Kong SAR, and other jurisdictions, assisting parties in completing overseas preservation measures. To meet the dispute resolution needs of participants from different legal jurisdictions, CIETAC’s Guidelines on Evidence were applied in 16 cases, reflecting the fairness of applying evidence rules to examine disputes between parties from different jurisdictions, and further enhancing the transparency and flexibility of arbitration procedures. Institutional designs such as third-party funding, interim awards, and partial awards were appropriately applied in practice.

(5) As one of the first eligible arbitral institutions under the Arrangement Concerning Mutual Assistance in Court-ordered Interim Measures in Aid of Arbitral Proceedings by the Courts of the Mainland and of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, CIETAC Hong Kong Arbitration Center, for the first time in 2025, forwarded an application for property preservation to a mainland maritime court pursuant to the Arrangement, which was fully supported. Notably, this case was an institutional arbitration administered by CIETAC Hong Kong Arbitration Center upon the parties’ request based on an ad hoc arbitration clause.

(6) The number of typical cases involving the ascertainment and application of foreign laws has significantly increased. To address issues related to ascertaining laws of Canada, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Chad, South Korea, Singapore, the Hong Kong SAR, and China’s Taiwan region, tribunals accurately ascertained and properly applied foreign laws in accordance with the law through means such as expert reports submitted by parties, appearances by legal experts, and engagement of specialized foreign law ascertainment services. This ensures equal protection of the legitimate rights and interests of both Chinese and foreign parties and highlighting arbitration’s unique strengths in resolving cross-border commercial disputes.

3. Setting Benchmarks in the Application of the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules. To meet the diverse dispute resolution needs of Chinese and foreign parties, CIETAC issued the Procedures for Administering Cases under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules (hereinafter referred to as the “Procedures”), enhancing the standardization and transparency of procedural management for such cases. This represents a pioneering move among Chinese arbitration institutions. Prior to the issuance, CIETAC already saw over ten cases administered under the “UNCITRAL Rules + CIETAC Administration” model. The Procedures were applied by the first case within less than two months of its implementation. With the case concluding successfully, it demonstrated CIETAC’s strengths in internationalized, refined, and professional procedural management, as well as the continuous enhancement of its international arbitration practice in handling complex cross-border commercial disputes.

(III) Comprehensively Strengthening Institutional Development, Elevating Systematic Development to a New Level.

1. Digital and Intelligent Transformation Achieves Milestone Progress. As the new technological revolution and industrial transformation deepen, digitalization has become not only essential for institutions to adapt to the development of digital economy, but also a direct response to user expectations. CIETAC has always focused on the development trend of the digital age, actively advanced the digital and intelligent transformation of arbitration.

(1) The construction of the digital institution has been largely realized, entering a new stage of integration and intelligence. In July 2025, CIETAC launched its fully redesigned bilingual (Chinese-English) official website, built around the vision of “Digital Connectivity, Centralized Integration, and Open Sharing”. The new website  closely aligns with the core needs of arbitration users in the era of digital economic transformation. It systematically features four major functions: “Digital Arbitration Court”, “Digital Office Space”, “Digital Event Hub”, and “Digital Library”. By integrating resources, optimizing business processes, and strengthening technological empowerment, the websites provide global parties with a one-stop, efficient service experience, contributing a “Chinese solution” in the field of arbitration to the construction of Digital China.

(2) Building the smart platform in a high level. To meet the dispute resolution needs of the digital economy era and actively respond to arbitration users’ expectations for efficient participation in arbitration proceedings, CIETAC launched its upgraded smart platform, i.e. CIETAC ODR, in June 2025. Centered on “multi-device connectivity, bilingual compatibility and full-process coverage”, the smart platform deeply integrates with the digital service system, enabling efficient coordination throughout the entire arbitration process, including online case filing, document exchange, virtual hearings, and award delivery. This enhances the convenience of dispute resolution and promotes arbitration as a preferred method for resolving cross-border disputes. Throughout the year, 4,755 applications were submitted online for case filing, serving 11,062 arbitration participants from 79 countries and regions. Among these, 3,386 cases were formally accepted after online application, representing a 12.9% year-on-year increase and accounting for 59% of the total caseload. A total of 2,029 online hearings were conducted, marking a 14.9% year-on-year increase and representing one-third of all hearings, serving 4,436 arbitration participants from 52 countries and regions. In 445 cases parties and tribunals utilized CIETAC’s smart platform for electronic service. This not only shortens case duration and improves efficiency but also fortifies procedural security, further meeting parties’ demands for high efficiency, convenience, and cost savings.

(3) Issuing the Guidelines on the Use of Artificial Intelligence Technology in Arbitration. In July 2025, CIETAC issued the first-ever Guidelines on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Arbitration by an arbitral institution in China and the Asia-Pacific region. Upholding the fundamental principles of party autonomy, assisted adjudication, and good faith, the Guidelines provide a forward-looking institutional foundation for the deep integration of AI into arbitration, achieving a scientific balance between arbitration efficiency improvement and risk control, which has significant industry leading significance. While affirming AI’s role in arbitration, the Guidelines also put forward appropriate reminders of risk responsibility to serve the growing practical needs of parties, tribunals and other arbitration participants seeking to leverage AI for cost reduction and efficiency improvement. This initiative reflects CIETAC’s open and inclusive stance toward arbitration technology and its firm commitment to safeguarding the integrity and credibility of arbitration.

2. Steadily Promoting the Renewal of Arbitrators. (1) Comprehensive preparations for the 2026 renewal of arbitrators are well underway. While thoroughly evaluating incumbent arbitrators, efforts were made to attract specialists from key sectors and emerging industries through open recruitment and other means, further expanding CIETAC’s global footprint. Six training sessions for newly selected applicants of arbitrators were organized, and various methods were employed to comprehensively assess new applicants, attracting more outstanding talents. (2) Completing the renewal of domain name experts for the Online Dispute Resolution Center. Following an integration and update of the expert database, there are now 107 domain name experts, providing parties with more professional and efficient domain name dispute resolution services.（3） Comprehensively strengthened the capacity building of the “two teams”. First, efforts have been made to strengthen institutional construction. The Guidelines on Appraisal and Audit were issued to enhance the standardization and transparency of handling specialized issues in arbitration proceedings. Regulatory documents including the Notice on Strict Compliance with the Code of Conduct for Virtual Hearings were released to urge arbitrators to perform their duties impartially, efficiently, and responsibly. Second, upholding a principle of strict accountability, CIETAC strengthened the arbitral tribunal responsibility system, intensified daily inspection and notices on typical issues, and improved the regular supervision and management system. With respect to misconduct of individual arbitrators, accountability was pursued in a serious manner, clearly establishing that violations must be investigated and responsibility must be enforced, thereby forming a strong and effective supervision mechanism. Third, with a focus on improving the quality of awards, CIETAC enhanced the standardized practice of arbitration. The headquarters and sub-commissions organized more than 10 special symposiums for arbitrators and staff members, made concentrated efforts to clear backlogged cases, improved the procedures for the appointment of arbitrators, strengthened disclosure obligations and recusal requirements, expanded case spot-checking, convened special meetings for scrutinizers, optimized the award review mechanism, improved Chinese-English stenography service, and reinforced standardized management and risk prevention. These measures comprehensively enhanced the sense of responsibility and professional capacity and responsibility of arbitrators and case managers.

4. Implemented major national strategies and demonstrated new commitment in serving the overall interests.

(1) Vigorously advanced the rule of law in the aerospace sector. CIETAC successfully held the 2025 Aerospace Industry Arbitration Conference, the first domestic conference covering dispute resolution across the full spectrum of space, aviation and low-altitude airspace operations. Leveraging its industry-leading role, CIETAC brought together key representatives of major international organizations in the aerospace field, as well as heads of industry authorities and leading enterprises, to conduct in-depth discussions on legal issues of the industry, trends in dispute resolution, and hot issues in arbitration practice. The conference was both historically groundbreaking and forward-looking, providing strong legal support for building a more comprehensive dispute resolution system for the aerospace industry.

(2) Contributed to building China into a leading intellectual property country. Ahead of World Intellectual Property Day and the National Intellectual Property Publicity Week, CIETAC held the 2025 Intellectual Property Dispute Resolution Forum themed “The Rhythm of the Times in Intellectual Property: Harmonious Resonance of Alternative Dispute Resolution”. CIETAC released the first groundbreaking serial report in China focusing on intellectual property arbitration, namely the Annual Report on International Arbitration of Intellectual Property Rights in China (2024). CIETAC continued to give full play to its professionalism and leading role in the field of intellectual property arbitration, and actively engaged in international exchanges and cooperation in intellectual property arbitration, which is of great significance for promoting the rule of law in intellectual property and advancing the strategy of building China into a leading country in intellectual property rights.

(3) Promoted the reform of the international investment governance system. CIETAC, together with the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), jointly hosted the 2025 Annual Conference of China International Investment Arbitration Forum themed “Focusing on ISDS Rules Breakthroughs and the Enforcement Chess Match”, centering on two major topics, namely the new development of the Investor-State Dispute Settlement reform and the practice of enforcing investment arbitration awards. CIETAC launched the “Annual Report of China International Investment Arbitration Forum (2023-2024)” showcasing the frontier research and latest achievements in China’s international investment law and arbitration. CIETAC also held the Youth Essay Competition, accelerating the cultivation of investment law talents and promoting coordinated development among government, industry, academia and research, as well as the integration of industry and education through innovation.

(4) Actively participated in the construction of international commercial arbitration centers. As one of the first world-class international arbitration institutions with Chinese characteristics cultivated by the Ministry of Justice, CIETAC gave full play to its professional, institutional and platform advantages, supported the construction of international commercial arbitration centers in multiple regions, and actively participated in relevant work such as legislative drafting, policy research and achievements exhibition. CIETAC implemented major national strategies including coordinating the promotion of domestic and foreign-related rule of law and serving high-level opening-up, and contributed to building China into a new global destination for international commercial arbitration.

(5) Built a dense service network for Chinese and foreign enterprises. By leveraging the joint efforts of its headquarters and sub-commissions, CIETAC carried out in-depth activities such as “walking into enterprises, into industries, into law firms, and into campuses”. CIETAC held more than 190 seminars and training sessions focusing on frontier trends and hot issues, organized more than 200 enterprise symposiums, point-to-point research activities, visits and receptions, and during overseas visits, held more than 10 symposiums for over 100 major Chinese-funded enterprises in fields such as finance, international logistics, new energy, and air transportation, connecting with tens of thousands of enterprises. CIETAC also set up exhibition booths at the China International Supply Chain Expo, the China Import and Export Fair, the China International Import Expo, and the China International Fair for Trade in Services, providing high-quality arbitration legal consultation services to exhibitors and visitors at home and abroad, with a total audience exceeding 10 million. These efforts continuously enhanced enterprises’ awareness and utilization of arbitration as a dispute resolution mechanism, and promoted the construction of a first-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based and internationalized.

5. Engaged in high-level international exchanges and cooperation, and demonstrated new achievements in participating in global governance.

(1) International arbitration legal exchanges achieved new breakthroughs. CIETAC visited nearly 20 key countries and regions worldwide, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, Spain, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, South Africa, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, and organized nearly 100 high-level and highly professional international arbitration events. These activities mainly included: pioneering the first “China-Africa Arbitration Day” in Cameroon, establishing a key platform for the diversified resolution of China-Africa economic and trade disputes and investment disputes, which was specially reported by Cameroon Radio Television and generated warm and extensive responses in African countries; co-hosting the seminar “International Arbitration Practice and Development of CIETAC and the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)” in The Hague, marking the first seminar held by a Chinese arbitration institution at the Peace Palace and demonstrating CIETAC’s growing influence in the field of international dispute resolution; successfully organizing CIETAC special events at major international forums, including One Belt One Road Asian disputes through London, Beijing and Singapore at the London International Disputes Week, When East Meets West: Comparative Analysis of Arbitration in China and the U.S. at the New York Arbitration Week, and New Practices and Prospects for International Arbitration at the Singapore Convention Week, being invited to participate in a series of international dispute resolution and arbitration weeks in London, New York, Paris, Singapore, Hong Kong and Pakistan, and becoming the only Chinese arbitration institution to speak at the flagship event “International Arbitration Day” of the London International Disputes Week; as the first overseas branch formally registered by a Chinese arbitration institution, the CIETAC North America Arbitration Center successfully held the Seminar on “Latest Hot Issues about International Commercial Arbitration” in Vancouver, injecting new momentum into promoting arbitration interaction and cooperation between China and North America as well as globally; and jointly hosting more than 70 high-level international arbitration seminars and roundtable meetings with major international arbitration institutions such as the American Arbitration Association and the London Court of International Arbitration, representing important efforts to deeply engage in global arbitration governance and enhance the international influence of Chinese arbitration.

In addition, CIETAC was invited to attend more than 20 major international dispute resolution events, including the inauguration ceremony of the International Organization for Mediation, the Sixth International Arbitration Conference, the Asian Civil Law Summit, and the Policy Dialogue on Alternative Dispute Resolution, etc. CIETAC also received visits from more than 20 international organizations and institutions such as the Law Society of Singapore, the Ministry of Investment for Saudi Arabia, the Istanbul Arbitration Centre, and the Pan African Lawyers Union, further expanding its international network.

(2) Global rule of law cooperation achieved new results. CIETAC signed cooperation agreements with internationally renowned dispute resolution institutions such as the Hungarian Arbitration Association and the Association for the Promotion of Arbitration in Africa, jointly promoting the development of international dispute resolution. As of December 2025, CIETAC had established cooperative relationships with a total of 109 partners worldwide.

(3) Remarkable results were achieved in building regional international arbitration ecosystems.

a. Rule of Law Facilitates New Development of SCO. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Arbitration Forum was successfully held in Urumqi, Xinjiang, with over 380 participants from 28 countries and regions, including 20 SCO full members, observers, and dialogue partners, of whom 168 were foreign guests. The event was also viewed via livestream by more than 17 million people across 32 countries and regions. At the forum, CIETAC issued the “SCO Arbitration Forum International Cooperation Initiative”, which received broad support from 29 international arbitration institutions across 24 of the 26 SCO member states. Both the forum and the initiative were included in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China’s List of Outcomes from China’s 2024-2025 SCO Rotary Presidency, establishing an important regional platform for rule of law cooperation and injecting new momentum into building a closer SCO community with a shared future.

b. Building a New Platform for China-Africa Dispute Resolution. In collaboration with relevant parties, the China-Africa International Arbitration Cooperation Conference was successfully held in Changsha, Hunan Province, with over 340 participants attending in person and more than 2.3 million viewers from over 10 countries and regions following online. The event further enhanced the role of arbitration in supporting China-Africa economic and trade cooperation. To meet the strong demand from users in China and Africa for high-level dispute resolution services, the CIETAC China-Africa Trial Center was inaugurated. Leveraging CIETAC’s extensive practical experience and international advantages, the Center provides high-level dispute resolution services for China-Africa commercial entities and represents a vivid rule of law practice in building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era. Only five months after its establishment, the Center held its first case hearing, reflecting the strong trust and recognition of CIETAC arbitration by China-Africa parties.

(4) The profile and impact of signature CIETAC events were further elevated

a. The influence of China Arbitration Week continued to expand. During China Arbitration Week 2025, 112 events were held across 44 cities in 10 countries and regions, including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Macao, London, Rome, Vancouver, Seoul, Singapore, Madrid, and Bishkek. A total of 507 domestic and international organizations participated, including 16 international organizations such as the UNCITRAL and the Inter-Pacific Bar Association, as well as 112 arbitration and dispute resolution institutions. More than 1,000 speakers delivered presentations. The scale of the events, thematic diversity, internationalization, and industry coverage all reached historical highs. Key highlights included the China Arbitration Summit 2025 & China-Latin America International Arbitration Forum, the China-Latin America Dialogue on Alternative Dispute Resolution, the press release for the Annual Report on International Commercial Arbitration in China, the Tang Lecture, Arbitration Night, the China Youth Arbitration Forum, and the BRICS Arbitration Forum. Since its inception in 2013, China Arbitration Week has been held in nearly 80 cities at home and abroad, with total online and offline participation exceeding 10 million, making it a highly professional and internationally influential signature event in the arbitration community.

b. The leading role of the China Arbitration Summit continued to be demonstrated. As the flagship event during China Arbitration Week, CIETAC, in collaboration with the UNCITRAL, the Inter-Pacific Bar Association, and the All China Lawyers Association, jointly hosted the China Arbitration Summit 2025 & China-Latin America International Arbitration Forum in Beijing. The Summit, themed “Navigating the Future of International Arbitration in the Digital Intelligence Era”, brought together 35 Chinese and foreign experts from 17 countries and regions for in-depth discussions. Nearly 500 participants from 52 countries and regions attended in person, including 237 international guests, while more than 5.1 million viewers from 103 countries and regions followed online.

During the Summit, CIETAC launched the Joint Action Plan for Promoting the Development of International Arbitration in the Digital and Intelligent Era, which received broad support from 74 international organizations and dispute resolution institutions worldwide. This represents the first major initiative in the international arbitration community aimed at promoting AI-empowered arbitration and deepening international arbitration cooperation in the digital era, and was highly praised by the Secretary of UNCITRAL Ms. Anna JOUBIN-BRET. Since its inception in 2015, the Summit has received wide recognition from the domestic and international arbitration community and has become one of the most influential events in the field of international commercial arbitration.

5. Significant results achieved in participating in global arbitration governance.

(1) As the invited observer of UNCITRAL, CIETAC participated in six meetings of working groups on arbitration and mediation, investment dispute resolution, e-commerce, and other rule-making sessions. CIETAC released professional observation reports on the reform of the international investment dispute settlement mechanism, giving China’s perspectives and solutions, thereby further enhancing its participation and influence over the formulation of international rules.

(2) As one of the founding institutions and the Beijing Office of the Asia Domain Name Dispute Resolution Centre (“ADNDRC”), CIETAC was deeply involved in the deliberation and governance of major matters. Closely coordinating with the Hong Kong, Seoul, and Kuala Lumpur offices, CIETAC co-hosted the ADNDRC’s Annual Conference, and dispatched representatives to participate in more than ten meetings of the Council and various specialized Committees. CIETAC also hosted the ADNDRC Domain Name Practice Development Workshop and Seminar on Global Brand Preservation and Domain Name Strategy, leading the practice of the ADNDRC. These efforts are of significant importance in safeguarding corporate trademark rights and promoting innovation-driven enterprise development.

(3) As one of the first batch of institutions recommended by the Ministry of Justice, and as one of the 8 officially recognized Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) providers under the APEC ODR Collaborative Framework, CIETAC actively participated in the joint development and cooperation of the mechanism. CIETAC was invited to introduce its digital and intelligent institutional development and online dispute resolution practices at events such as the APEC Economic Committee ODR Workshop, providing integrated, end-to-end dispute resolution services encompassing negotiation, mediation, and arbitration for B2B commercial activities.

6. Accelerated foreign-related rule of law talent training, achieving new progress in promoting the foreign-related rule of law system and capacity building. 

(1) Created a new horizon in the training of foreign-related rule of law talents.

a. Continuous expansion of the influence of the CIETAC Cup brand competitions.

First, CIETAC successfully held the 23rd CIETAC Cup International Commercial Arbitration Moot. A total of 103 teams comprising more than 1,000 participants from countries and regions including the United Kingdom, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Hungary, Hong Kong SAR (China), and Macao SAR (China), as well as from multiple provinces and municipalities across China, competed in 221 rounds of hearings. A total of 279 legal practitioners, arbitrators, lawyers, scholars, and representatives of arbitral institutions from 27 countries and regions served as judges. With a grand spectacle of competition among hundreds of universities and over a thousand participants, both the scale of the competition and its geographical coverage reached new highs, while its level of professionalism and internationalization continued to improve.

CIETAC has sponsored the champion and the runner-up of the 22nd CIETAC Cup to participate in the international competitions respectively in Vienna, Austria, and Hong Kong SAR (China), and sending representatives to serve as judges, showing the world the vigor and spirit of China’s young arbitration professionals. Relying on the “CIETAC Cup Alumni Association”, CIETAC organized nine sessions of the “Voice of Moot” training series with nearly 90,000 online views in total, which provided young legal professionals with competition preparation guidance and career planning in the field of international commercial arbitration, further enriching the competition experience.

Second, CIETAC successfully held the 6th CIETAC Cup International Investment Arbitration Moot. A total of 36 law school teams from universities across China participated, with more than 100 experts from over 10 jurisdictions worldwide—including the United States, Canada, Germany, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Algeria, Argentina, Hong Kong SAR (China), and Macao SAR (China)—serving as arbitrators. The competition has become a benchmark and leading foreign-related legal competition in the fields of international investment law and international investment arbitration. Since its inception, the CIETAC Cup Moot has attracted more than 20,000 students from over 200 renowned universities in China and abroad, and has cumulatively engaged tens of thousands of law students each year, raising their awareness and understanding of international commercial arbitration, many of whom have developed into the core force of China’s arbitration.

b. Deepen collaboration in cultivating foreign-related rule of law talents.

First, CIETAC strengthened pragmatic cooperation with 35 universities domestic and overseas, including Renmin University of China, Fudan University, Xiamen University, the University of International Business and Economics, Xi’an Jiaotong University, and City University of Hong Kong. Centered on international arbitration master’s programs and foreign-related lawyer master’s programs, CIETAC developed specialized training courses and provided practical guidance. Among these, the Practice of International Commercial Arbitration course won the Excellence Award in the Industry–Education Integration Track of the 5th Beijing University Faculty Teaching Innovation Competition. It was the only law-related course to receive this award and marked the first time that a course on international commercial arbitration practice has won an award in a higher education teaching competition in China.

Second, CIETAC implemented the collaborative training initiatives approved by the Ministry of Education, jointly establishing innovative bases for the collaborative cultivation of foreign-related rule of law talents with 7 well-known universities. CIETAC is not only approved with the largest number of collaborative projects, but has also been recognized by the relevant authorities as the institution that has implemented such projects in the most substantive and effective manner.

c. Substantial achievements in arbitration and legal practice training.

First, building on the CIETAC International Arbitration Institute and its previous programs such as the International Investment Arbitration Course, the Course on the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG), and the Course on the Hong Kong Arbitration Law, CIETAC continued to offer the Tribunal Secretary Training Course. These programs are aimed at cultivating foreign-related legal professionals with strong professional competence, a solid command of international rules, and extensive expertise in foreign-related rule of law practice.

Second, CIETAC delivered training courses for a range of high-level programs, including the Executive Development Program on Legal Services for SCO countries organized by the Ministry of Justice; the Training Program for Judicial Officers from Belt and Road countries and the Training Program on International Commercial Legal Services and Diversified Dispute Resolution for Belt and Road countries hosted by the Ministry of Commerce; as well as foreign-related rule of law talents training programs in multiple cities. CIETAC also organized legal practice activities in Qingdao for 43 foreign faculty members and students from 34 countries, and implemented programs such as the International Youth Legal Exchange Federation internships and the Mainland China Legal Internship Programme for Hong Kong Youths, thereby actively cultivating leading foreign-related rule of law talents. 

(2) New progress in the development of practice-oriented think tank.

a. CIETAC actively provided opinions and suggestions for legislations. Drawing on its extensive and forward-looking practical experience, CIETAC submitted professional opinions on the enactment or amendment of 11 laws and regulations, including the Arbitration Law, the Regulation on Commercial Mediation, the Trademark Law, the Customs Law, and the Anti-Unfair Competition Law, and also on 18 proposals by deputies to the National People’s Congress and members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, thereby injecting new drivers into the advancement of the rule of law in China.

b. CIETAC published five research outcomes, including the Annual Report on International Commercial Arbitration in China (2024-2025), Selected Arbitration Cases of Construction Engineering, Research on the Arbitration Systems in Latin American Countries, among others, and continued the publication of Arbitration and Law. Among these, Selected Arbitration Cases of Construction Engineering features 15 representative real cases administered by CIETAC, providing practical legal guidance for dispute resolution in the construction industry; Research on the Arbitration Systems in Latin American Countries represents China’s first in-depth study focusing on national arbitration regimes in the Latin American region, offering valuable reference for Chinese and foreign economic parties participating in international arbitration practice.

II. 2026 Work Plan

The year 2026 marks the opening of the 15th Five-Year Plan. CIETAC will actively integrate into and serve the new development pattern, advance both domestic and foreign-related rule of law, and promote high-level opening-up and high-quality development. Aiming to become a world-class arbitration institution with outstanding credibility, a modern and efficient governance system, globally leading digital and intelligent capabilities, and significant international influence, CIETAC will operate under the revised Arbitration Law, continuously improve the arbitration service system that is independent, impartial, professional, efficient, digital, and intelligent, and better meet the diversified dispute resolution needs of both domestic and foreign parties. CIETAC will enhance quality and efficiency through reform and innovation, strengthen the international credibility of Chinese arbitration, foster its global influence and leadership, and make greater contributions to the advancement of Chinese-style modernization.

1. Continuously establishing a benchmark for a world-class arbitration institution, and supporting the construction of China’s international commercial arbitration center.

CIETAC will comprehensively advance the construction of arbitration institution with Chinese characteristics. Focusing on systematic development and capacity building, CIETAC will strengthen the development of domestic and overseas branches and expand internationalized and facilitative service measures. Keeping pace with cutting-edge trends in international arbitration, CIETAC will explore institutional designs that are both aligned with internationally recognized practices and tailored to China’s arbitration realities, with demonstrative and guiding significance, and develop advanced rules to lead practical innovation. CIETAC will endeavor to refine and standardize case management procedures and optimize various mechanisms, such as award scrutiny, to further improve the quality and efficiency of case administration. CIETAC will actively explore the deep integration of artificial intelligence and big data with arbitration, leveraging digital technologies to enhance both the quality and efficiency of arbitration, and accelerate the development of a digital and intelligent institution to a new level. CIETAC will continue to reinforce its arbitration team, consolidate supervisory and management mechanisms, fully implement the responsibility system for arbitral tribunals, continuously improve the case-handling skills and emerging-field expertise of arbitrators, and boost the professional service capabilities of case managers.

2. Serving the new development pattern, and safeguarding high-quality development through arbitration rule of law.

CIETAC will actively serve both domestic and international dual circulation, coordinating its headquarters and sub-commissions to implement a unified strategy. CIETAC will bolster regional collaboration in key areas, including the Hainan Free Trade Port, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Yangtze River Delta, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, and Xiong’an New Area, weaving a dense and robust service network for domestic and foreign enterprises and contributing to the development of a rule of law based, world-class business environment. CIETAC will expand arbitration services into new fields and emerging sectors, refine multi-tiered dispute resolution mechanisms, and broaden the dispute resolution service matrix. CIETAC will vigorously promote the application of arbitration in new economic and business scenarios, utilizing high-level arbitration services to support the development of emerging productivity and the construction of a unified national market.

3. Broadening international exchanges and cooperation, and deeply engaging in global arbitration governance.

CIETAC will firmly enhance international arbitration legal exchanges and cooperation, deepen global partnership, expand its international arbitration network, and lead the development of a robust international arbitration ecosystem. CIETAC will continue to proactively participate in the governance of international organizations and related conferences, including UNCITRAL, the ADNDRC, and other global bodies, taking a dynamic role in international rule-making. CIETAC will tell the story of Chinese arbitration, integrate China’s advanced arbitration practices into the international arbitration rule system, and increase China’s voice and leadership in global arbitration affairs. CIETAC will enhance the “soft power” of arbitration by continuing to organize influential brand events such as China Arbitration Week and the China Arbitration Summit, while leveraging the Beijing Joint Declaration of Belt and Road Arbitration Institutions and related cooperation mechanisms to further foster its international influence.

4. Strongly promoting talent training and think tank building, and strengthening the foreign-related rule of law system and capacity.

CIETAC will accelerate the enhancement of the CIETAC Cup International Commercial Arbitration Moot and the International Investment Arbitration Moot, expanding its scale and internationalization, enriching the participant experience, and cultivating more internationalized, practice-oriented talents, thereby providing young arbitration professionals with a broad platform to discover and connect with the world. CIETAC will implement cooperation agreements with universities and the Innovative Bases for the Collaborative Cultivation of Foreign-related Rule of Law Talents, elaborately designing and organizing courses for the International Arbitration Law Master’s Program and the Foreign-Related Lawyers Master’s Program, while providing practical arbitration training for corporate counsels, lawyers, and other practitioners, laying a strong foundation for the development of international commercial arbitration and the foreign-related rule of law. To better serve as a practice-oriented think tank, CIETAC will strengthen legislative advisory work, conduct specialized research on cutting-edge international arbitration issues, and produce high-quality outputs, including the Annual Report on International Commercial Arbitration in China, while effectively utilizing CIETAC’s collections of exemplary cases to provide important practical references for domestic and foreign commercial entities.

The dream lofty, the journey long – bold strides will get us there. In 2026, CIETAC will embrace new opportunities with confidence, seize the moment and forge ahead, taking seventy years of dedicated practice as a firm foundation for a new beginning. Guided by a spirit of steadfast commitment and pragmatic action, CIETAC will endeavor to set the benchmark for a world-class arbitration institution, and write a new global and era-leading chapter for Chinese arbitration.