On the morning of March 24, 2026, during the 2026 Hamburg International Arbitration Day, the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) and the German Arbitration Institute (DIS) jointly hosted an international arbitration seminar titled “How to Settle in Arbitration Proceedings? —Perspectives from China and Germany.” The Hamburg office of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer hosted the event. The conference attracted nearly a hundred professionals from the arbitration and legal communities in Germany, China, Brazil, and other European countries. Experts from both academia and the legal profession engaged in in-depth exchanges and discussions on topics such as the international arbitration systems of China and Germany, as well as settlement practices in arbitration proceedings.

（The conference venue）

Ms. Ramona Schardt, Secretary General of the German Arbitration Institute (DIS), delivered a welcome address on behalf of DIS. She expressed her pleasure at co-hosting this event with CIETAC during this year’s Hamburg International Arbitration Day. She noted that since signing a cooperation agreement in 1994, CIETAC and DIS have maintained close collaboration. Both institutions wield significant influence in the field of international arbitration, and each possesses distinctive strengths in the development of arbitration systems and practical experience. Through in-depth dialogue and exchange, this collaboration will help enhance the understanding and application of international commercial dispute resolution among enterprises in both countries.

（Welcome Remarks by Secretary-General Ramona Schardt）

Wang Chengjie, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of CIETAC, delivered a keynote speech. Secretary General Wang outlined the latest progress CIETAC has made in its international development in recent years and used relevant data to illustrate the trend of steadily increasing case volumes and growing internationalization of cases handled by CIETAC. He noted that as cross-border economic and trade exchanges continue to deepen, parties are placing higher demands on efficient, flexible, and fair dispute resolution methods. In recent years, CIETAC has continuously refined its arbitration rules system, actively promoted dispute resolution mechanisms that combine arbitration with mediation, and enhanced its international arbitration service capabilities through strengthened international cooperation and global expansion. Secretary General Wang pointed out that arbitration institutions in China and Germany share common goals in upholding procedural fairness and promoting the efficient resolution of disputes, and that there is broad scope for cooperation between the two sides in areas such as the exchange of international arbitration practices.

（Secretary-General Wang Chengjie delivered a keynote speech）

During the subsequent panel discussion, several experts from the arbitration and legal communities in China and Germany engaged in an in-depth discussion on the topic of “Effective Mediation in Arbitration Proceedings: A Comparative Perspective on International Arbitration Systems and Practices in China and Germany.” This session was moderated by Dr. Joachim Glatter, a member of the DIS China Committee and an arbitrator at CIETAC. Participants included Lu Fei, Director of the Business Development Department at CIETAC and Secretary General of the European Arbitration Center; Tao Jingzhou, an international independent arbitrator and CIETAC arbitrator; Alexander Foerster, Founding Partner of Advokat Foerster AB; and Patrick Schroeder, Partner at Freshfields. The panelists engaged in an in-depth exchange on topics including the experience of China’s “Med-Arb” (mediation-arbitration) practice and its implications for international arbitration settlement mechanisms; the institutional design of German arbitration practice aimed at encouraging parties to settle during arbitration proceedings; and the relevant provisions and application of the DIS Arbitration Rules regarding mediation in arbitration. The participating experts unanimously agreed that encouraging parties to reach settlements through negotiation in international arbitration proceedings helps improve the efficiency of dispute resolution, reduce costs, further enhance the flexibility of the arbitration system, and effectively protect the parties’ positive cooperative relationship.

（Panel Discussion Session）

The event was marked by a lively atmosphere, with attendees actively participating in discussions and asking questions. Many participants noted that the exchange helped deepen their understanding of arbitration systems and practices in China and Germany, and they spoke highly of the important role played by CIETAC in promoting international arbitration cooperation. 

On March 23, during the 2026 Hamburg International Arbitration Day, CIETAC, in collaboration with DIS and the Center for Arbitration and Mediation of the Chamber of Commerce Brazil-Canada (CAM-CCBC), co-hosted an international arbitration seminar on the theme of “Arbitration and Enforcement Procedures in the Era of EU Sanctions and Russia’s Lugovoi Law.” At the seminar, Mr. Tao Jingzhou, an arbitrator at CIETAC, delivered a presentation focusing on the enforceability in China of awards rendered under Russia’s Lugovoi Act and the potential impact of relevant sanctions regimes on cross-border dispute resolution.

（The conference venue）

During their visit to Germany, the CIETAC delegation also attended the 2026 Hamburg International Arbitration Day, an international symposium themed “The Role of Arbitration Institutions in Safeguarding Arbitration Proceedings,” and engaged in extensive discussions with attendees and delegates.

（Scene from the Hamburg International Arbitration Day Conference）

By participating in this year’s 2026 Hamburg International Arbitration Day, CIETAC further strengthened its exchanges and ties with the European arbitration community, actively showcased the openness and professional standards of Chinese arbitration, and made a positive contribution to promoting Sino-German arbitration exchanges and cooperation, enhancing the international credibility of Chinese arbitration, and advancing the development of international arbitration.