On September 24, 2025, Seminar on Dispute Resolution in the Cultural and Tourism Industry of the Hainan Free Trade Port, also 2025 China Arbitration Week Hainan event, was successfully held in Haikou. The event was hosted by China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) Hainan Arbitration Center, co-hosted by China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Hainan Committee (CCPIT Hainan Committee) and Hainan Lawyers Association, and supported by Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province, Bureau of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Haikou City, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Haikou Committee (CCPIT Haikou Committee), and Hainan Arbitration Association.

GU Yan, Vice President of CIETAC Arbitration Court, WANG Shuai, Vice Director of Hainan Provincial Department of Justice, and WANG Yuyuan, Vice Chairman of CCPIT Hainan Provincial Committee delivered opening remarks. The opening ceremony was presided over by JIN Xi, Deputy Secretary-General of CIETAC Hainan Arbitration Center.

(Venue of the Senimar)

Vice President GU Yan stated in his remark that the cultural and tourism industry is a key development sector in China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, boasting advantages such as low carbon emissions, energy efficiency, and high economic returns, and plays a significant role in promoting economic development. He emphasized that arbitration, as an internationally recognized method of dispute resolution, is well-suited to address disputes arising during the development of the cultural and tourism industry. A sound arbitration system helps optimize the regional business environment, safeguard investor confidence, and ensure the stable operation of transactions. Regarding the future development of dispute resolution in Hainan’s cultural and tourism industry, he further proposed the following recommendations: continue to vigorously promote the arbitration mechanism and make effective use of arbitration tools; deepen exchanges and cooperation to build a stronger collective force for dispute resolution; enhance professional training to cultivate a solid talent foundation; and leverage technological innovation to enable smart and green dispute resolution. As the Hainan Free Trade Port increasingly integrates into the international stage, CIETAC will continue to leverage its professional and international strengths through its Hainan Arbitration Center, providing high-quality dispute resolution services to offer robust legal safeguards for the development of industries such as culture and tourism in the Free Trade Port.

(GU Yan, Vice President of CIETAC Arbitration Court, addressed the opening ceremony）

Vice Director WANG Shuai pointed out that the newly revised Chinese Arbitration Law and the pioneering Provisions on the Development of International Commercial Arbitration in Hainan Free Trade Port, introduced as part of Hainan’s pilot reforms, have established a clear legal framework for the high-quality development of Hainan’s cultural and tourism industry. He noted that disputes in areas such as foreign exchange settlement, international service standards, and cross-border consumer rights protection are likely to become more prominent in the future. A well-developed dispute resolution mechanism will serve as a crucial safeguard for the stable growth of the cultural and tourism sector. Hainan Provincial Department of Justice will further strengthen exchanges and cooperation with CIETAC and CIETAC Hainan Arbitration Center, contributing judicial expertise and legal support to promote the healthy and orderly development of the cultural and tourism industry within the Free Trade Port.

(WANG Shuai, Vice Director of Hainan Provincial Department of Justice, addressed the opening ceremony）

Vice Chairman WANG Yuyuan introduced CCPIT Hainan Provincial Committee’s work and vision in foreign-related commercial legal services in his addressing speech. He stated that as the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) approaches its island-wide customs closure operation and international trade enjoys rapid growth, the cultural and tourism industry is facing unprecedented development opportunities. In recent years, Hainan has been strengthening legal services for foreign businesses, building an integrated one-stop mechanism that connects mediation, arbitration, and litigation for the diversified resolution of international commercial disputes, providing a legal framework for the FTP’s rule-of-law construction. This seminar will undoubtedly empower enterprises in the cultural and tourism sector to resolve disputes quickly and efficiently through arbitration, effectively fostering the integrated development of Hainan’s cultural and tourism industry.

（WANG Yuyuan, Vice Chairman of CCPIT Hainan Committee, addressed the opening ceremony）

(JIN Xi, Deputy Secretary-General of CIETAC Hainan Arbitration Center moderated the opening ceremony)

To further advance the construction of a foreign-related legal system and support the development of Hainan as a Free Trade Port connecting China and the world with comprehensive dispute resolution and information services, CIETAC Hainan Arbitration Center has launched its official WeChat public account. Following the opening ceremony, a launch ceremony was held. Vice President GU Yan, Deputy Director WANG Shuai, Vice Chairman WANG Yuyuan, and Deputy Secretary-General JIN Xi jointly witnessed the official launch of the account. The launch ceremony and the subsequent keynote speech session were presided over by WANG Yitan, case manager of CIETAC Hainan Arbitration Center.

(The launch ceremony of CIETAC Hainan Arbitration Center’s WeChat public account, from left to right: JIN Xi, Deputy Secretary-General of CIETAC Hainan Arbitration Center, WANG Shuai, Vice Director of Hainan Provincial Department of Justice, GU Yan, Vice President of CIETAC Arbitration Court, and WANG Yuyuan, Vice Chairman of CCPIT Hainan Committee)

In the keynote speech session, Dr. WANG Wenying, CIETAC arbitrator and former Secretary-General of CIETAC Hainan Arbitration Center and CIETAC Hong Kong Arbitration Center, delivered an in-depth introduction online on the theme of ‘The Unique Advantages and Role of Smart Arbitration in Resolving Cultural and Tourism Disputes and Preventing Risks’. She briefed on the composition and main characteristics of the cultural and tourism industry, then specifically analyzed the features of cultural and tourism disputes, which include complex legal relationships due to diverse parties and their non-local nature, electronic evidence, strong timeliness requirements, and the high professionalism of the cultural and tourism sector. By integrating with CIETAC’s ODR Platform, she further elaborated on the new directions for smart arbitration in resolving cultural and tourism disputes. She expressed that through continuous technological innovation and institutional improvement, smart arbitration is expected to become the preferred pathway for resolving cultural and tourism disputes.

(Dr. WANG Wenying, CIETAC arbitrator and former Secretary-General of CIETAC Hainan Arbitration Center and CIETAC Hong Kong Arbitration Center, delivered the keynote speech)

In the expert seminar session, eight legal experts shared their professional insights on two key themes: “Research on Emerging Legal Issues in Cultural and Tourism Industry Disputes” and “Interpretation of Hainan Free Trade Port Regulations/Policies Related to the Cultural and Tourism Industry”.

Session I was moderated by WANG Longkui, CIETAC arbitrator, Vice President of Hainan Lawyers Association & Chairman of the Management Committee of Grandall Law Firm (Hainan). Detailed insights were shared by Tim Meng, CIETAC arbitrator & Managing Partner of Beijing Goldengate Lawyers, WANG Lihua, CIETAC arbitrator & Senior Partner of Zhong Lun Law Firm, and LANG Lang, Partner of Dentons. Drawing on their practical experience, the panelists introduced and showcased the adjudication standards of courts and arbitration institutions in cultural and tourism disputes, and shared insights on rules for determining loss of obtainable profit, as well as legal risks associated with cultural and tourism IP and performance projects, providing an in-depth analysis of hot legal issues in this field.

(From left to right: Mr. WANG Longkui, Mr. Tim Meng, Ms. WANG Lihua, and Ms. LANG Lang)

Session II was moderated by LUO Rong, Deputy Director of the Cultural and Tourism Committee of Hainan Lawyers Association & Senior Partner of Hainan Weidun Law Firm. Specific insights were shared by CHANG Jian, CIETAC Arbitrator & Professor and Doctoral Supervisor of Hainan University School of Law, LI Qingyu, Deputy Director of General Office of Hainan International Economic Development Bureau, and WANG Yao, Vice President of Hainan Arbitration Association and Executive Director of King & Wood Mallesons (Sanya). Leveraging practical experience in developing the cultural and tourism sector within Hainan Free Trade Port, the panelists conducted a precise analysis of policies and regulations at both the national and Free Trade Port levels, outlined the policy framework supporting the industry, and affirmed the significant role of arbitration in resolving related disputes. They collectively advocated for seizing Hainan’s unique geographical advantages and the opportunity presented by the island-wide customs closure, emphasizing that high-quality arbitration services will safeguard the long-term growth of the cultural and tourism industry in the Free Trade Port.

(From left to right: Ms. LUO Rong, Mr. CHANG Jian, Mr. LI Qingyu and Ms. WANG Yao)

At the end of the event, LIU Daojun, Vice President of Hainan Lawyers Association and President of Hainan Arbitration Association, delivered the closing remark. He stated that as an indispensable pillar of the dispute resolution system, arbitration must proactively adapt to the new trends in the integrated development of the cultural and tourism industry, continuously elevate the level of legal services, and inject stronger momentum into the construction of Hainan Free Trade Port.

(LIU Daojun, Vice President of Hainan Lawyers Association and President of Hainan Arbitration Association, delivered the closing remark)

Amid warm applause, the event concluded successfully. The seminar focused on cutting-edge issues in resolving cultural and tourism disputes, providing a multi-dimensional exchange platform to advance the island-wide customs closure operation and enhance legal services for the Free Trade Port. It was highly praised by the participants. Moving forward, CIETAC Hainan Arbitration Center will continue to leverage the effectiveness of arbitration services to promote the high-quality development of the dispute resolution industry in Hainan Free Trade Port.