On September 25, 2025, Lecture on “Risks and Responses in Cross-Border Payment in International Trade” was successfully held, as the fourth event of 2025 China Arbitration Week in Tianjin. The Lecture was jointly organized by China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) Tianjin Sub-Commission, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Tianjin Sub-Council (CCPITTJ), and China National Democratic Construction Association (CNDCA) Tianjin Committee, undertaken by CCPIT Tianjin Commercial Legal Service Center, CNDCA Tianjin Hebei District Committee, and the Secretariat of China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC) Tianjin Chapter, with support from Tianjin Municipal Bureau of Commerce and Tianjin High-Tech Industrial Development Area Management Committee. Mr. ZOU Yonggui, Deputy Party Secretary of CIETAC, Mr. ZHOU Qing, Vice Chairman of CCPITTJ, and Mr. YANG Bin, Secretary-General of CNDCA Tianjin Committee attended the Lecture and delivered opening remarks. 

(Lecture Venue)

Mr. ZOU Yonggui noted that in the current complex international environment, identifying and addressing cross-border payment risks has become a critical challenge for foreign trade enterprises and international investors. He reviewed the development of China Arbitration Week and highlighted CIETAC’s strengths and expertise in the resolution of international trade disputes. Mr. Zou further stated that, going forward, CIETAC and CIETAC Tianjin Sub-Commission will strengthen research on foreign-related rule-of-law development and continue to deepen cooperation with stakeholders from all sectors. Through joint efforts, they aim to enhance industry and enterprises’ understanding of the advantages of arbitration as a dispute resolution mechanism, promote its broader recognition in international trade disputes, and support Tianjin in fostering a world-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized. 

Mr. ZHOU Qing highlighted CCPITTJ’s commitment to serve Chinese and foreign enterprises, building a comprehensive foreign-related legal service system integrating international commercial arbitration, mediation, compliance, and intellectual property dispute resolution. In the future, CCPITTJ, together with CIETAC Tianjin Sub-Commission, will deepen legal cooperation in international commercial arbitration, and attract more international commercial entities to choose Tianjin as their preferred destination for dispute resolution.

Mr. YANG Bin stated that CNDCA Tianjin Committee has continuously paid close attention to the arbitration system, and has promoted greater understanding and use of arbitration among enterprises through policy research and recommendations, platform-building initiatives, and rule-of-law outreach activities. CNDCA Tianjin Committee will continue to work with all parties, focus on serving enterprises, build more platforms for government-business engagement and expert support, and enable more enterprises to operate with confidence, invest with assurance, and achieve sustainable growth in Tianjin.

(From left to right: Mr. ZOU Yonggui, Mr. ZHOU Qing and Mr. YANG Bin)

The keynote speaker, CIETAC arbitrator, Professor WANG Keyu from the Law School of Central University of Finance and Economics, delivered the speech titled “Payment Risks and Responses in International Trade”. He analyzed current trends of international trade in China, illustrated types of sanctions and their jurisdictional applications with cases, and emphasized the growing importance of managing cross-border payment risks amid global uncertainties. Professor WANG detailed the impact of unilateral sanctions on both micro-level payment activities and macro-level payment systems, offering practical recommendations for enterprises to mitigate associated risks.

(Professor WANG Keyu )

During the Q&A session, participants engaged in in-depth discussions with Professor WANG on topics such as the comparative advantages of arbitration versus litigation and strategies to address malicious encashment of commercial guarantee letters. 

The Lecture attracted over 150 representatives from government agencies, legal community, and enterprises, providing actionable insights for identifying and mitigating international trade payment risks. The lecture concluded with positive feedback.