From February 16 to 20, 2026, the 83rd session of Working Group II (Dispute Settlement) of UNCITRAL was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA. Upon the invitation from UNCITRAL, the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) participated as an observer and was represented on-site by Jin Xi, the Deputy Secretary-General of CIETAC South China Sub-Commission/Hainan Arbitration Center, and Li Xinyu, the Case Manager of CIETAC Filing & Consultation Division.

The core topic of this session was “Recognition and Enforcement of Electronic Arbitration Awards”. The working group continued its discussion on issues related to arbitration awards in electronic form. Participants reached broad consensus that arbitration awards should not be denied recognition or enforcement solely on the basis of their electronic form. They also discussed and proposed specific wording for relevant provisions.

During the session, the working group hosted a colloquium on the use of AI in dispute resolution and the development of procedural guidance on remote hearings in arbitration and the conduct of mediation. The colloquium featured three thematic sessions focusing on leading-edge topics in technology-empowered dispute resolution. Experts from institutions including the London Court of International Arbitration, the American Arbitration Association, the Dubai Financial Court, the Silicon Valley Arbitration and Mediation Center, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and the International Chamber of Commerce shared practical approaches and leading-edge insights on guidelines and best practices for arbitrators’ use of AI systems, remote mediation, remote arbitration hearing etc.,

With a forward-looking strategic vision, CIETAC promptly issued the Guidelines on the Use of Artificial Intelligence Technology in Arbitration (Trial) on July 18, 2025. These guidelines establish three fundamental principles for AI application in arbitration: party autonomy, auxiliary role in decision-making, and good faith. This aligns closely with the core principles of ensuring transparency, accountability, and procedural integrity discussed at this colloquium. This initiative by CIETAC not only provides timely and standardized guidance for domestic arbitration practice but also contributes a Chinese solution to the international community’s exploration of the integrated development of AI and dispute resolution. It offers highly valuable institutional references for the international arbitration community in addressing technological transformation.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of UNCITRAL and the 70th anniversary of CIETAC. At this significant historical juncture, the long-standing friendly cooperation between CIETAC and UNCITRAL has drawn considerable attention. Leveraging the profound expertise and professional advantages accumulated over seven decades in international commercial arbitration, CIETAC has consistently engaged in the formulation of international arbitration rules, promoting China’s voice and contributing Chinese wisdom. Since becoming an observer of UNCITRAL in 2009, CIETAC has actively participated in sessions of UNCITRAL’s Working Groups II, III, and IV. CIETAC has witnessed UNCITRAL’s outstanding contributions to advancing the harmonization of global international trade law and has been directly involved in the discussion and development of numerous significant international rules. Beyond regular participation in UNCITRAL working group sessions, CIETAC maintains a close cooperative relationship with UNCITRAL, jointly hosting the China Arbitration Summit for consecutive years. During this session, the CIETAC delegation strengthened communication with the UNCITRAL Secretariat, reviewed their collaborative journey, discussed future development directions together, and engaged in extensive, in-depth exchanges with representatives from governments and non-governmental organizations. This demonstrated the proactive stance of Chinese arbitration institutions in the formulation of international dispute resolution rules and innovative practices.

In the future, CIETAC will continue to uphold the principles of professionalism, impartiality, and openness, closely monitor leading-edge research in international arbitration, actively participate in the formulation of international dispute resolution rules, and consistently lead the high-quality development of both Chinese and international arbitration toward digitalization and intelligentization, moving forward to shape the next seventy years of excellence in dispute resolution.