From March 26 to 27, 2026, on the occasion of the 2026 Paris Arbitration Week, Wang Chengjie, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) , led a delegation to visit France and hosted a series of professional exchanges on commercial arbitration and cross-border dispute resolution in Paris, conducting in-depth dialogues with legal and business professionals in France. During the visit, all parties held full discussions on key topics including the differences and alignment between Chinese and French arbitration systems, the optimization of dispute resolution paths for foreign-related investment, and the coordinated application of diversified dispute resolution mechanisms. These efforts have further enhanced professional understanding, expanded room for cooperation, built an important platform for continuously deepening practical China-France economic and trade cooperation and strengthening connectivity in the arbitration field between China and France, as well as China and Europe, and promoted the joint improvement of cross-border legal service standards.

Paris Arbitration Week: Pooling Efforts to Serve the Belt and Road Initiative, Jointly Building a New Future for Eastern and Western Arbitration

As an official cooperative partner of the Paris Arbitration Week, CIETAC hosted a special seminar themed Arbitration Services for the Belt and Road Initiative: Comparison and Future Mutual Learning of Eastern and Western Arbitration Systems. Based on CIETAC’s rich practice and institutional advantages in serving the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, the event shared China’s innovative achievements in commercial arbitration rules and practical experience in cross-border dispute resolution, demonstrating the oriental wisdom and professional solutions that CIETAC has contributed to the development of international arbitration. The delegation conducted an in-depth comparison of the similarities and differences between Eastern and Western arbitration systems with French legal practitioners, jointly explored efficient and convenient cross-border commercial dispute resolution paths under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, and reached extensive consensus on deepening China-Europe arbitration exchanges and cooperation and promoting the integrated development of international arbitration rules.

 (The meeting site) 

(The delegation engages in extensive exchanges with participants)

(The exchange site of CIETAC's special seminar)

The CIETAC delegation also participated in a number of professional international seminars under the auspice of the 2026 Paris Arbitration Week, including the thematic seminar Taming the Beast – Discussing the ASA User Council's Whitepaper on Document Production and the Jus Mundi Institutions Symposium: The Asia-Middle East Arbitration Corridor. During these events, the delegation actively shared China’s arbitration practice experience and conducted in-depth exchanges with participants and representatives from all parties.

(The CIETAC delegation participates in the Taming the Beast seminar)

(The CIETAC delegation participates in the Jus Mundi Institutions Symposium)

(The delegation engages in extensive exchanges with participants)

(The delegation engages in extensive exchanges with participants)

Dialogue with Enterprises: Focusing on Overseas Risk Prevention and Control, Supporting Steady Development of Enterprises

During the visit, the delegation held a forum for Chinese enterprises themed Overseas Risk Prevention and Dispute Resolution for Enterprises. Centering on key issues such as compliance management, risk alert and dispute resolution faced by Chinese enterprises in investment and operation in France and Europe, the forum carried out professional exchanges, and provided enterprises with practical guidance and comprehensive solutions covering the improvement of contract terms, the selection of dispute resolution mechanisms and full-process risk response.

(Group photo of some participants)

Strategic Cooperation: Pooling International Arbitration Forces to Jointly Promote the Development of Global Dispute Resolution

During the 2026 Paris Arbitration Week, CIETAC formally signed a cooperation agreement with the Mauritius International Arbitration Centre (MIAC) . This signing marks the establishment of a normalized and practical cooperative relationship between the two parties, which will jointly expand the international commercial dispute resolution service network and provide more diverse, efficient and convenient dispute resolution options for Chinese and foreign enterprises in cross-border investment and economic and trade exchanges.

(CIETAC and MIAC sign the cooperation agreement)

Extensive Exchanges: Joining Hands with Top Legal Institutions to Build Consensus on Cross-Border Dispute Resolution

During the visit to France, the delegation also held talks and exchanges with professional legal service institutions such as Accuracy  and Jus Mundi . Through in-depth presentations and deep communication, all French sectors gained a comprehensive understanding of CIETAC’s innovative practices in digitalized institution construction, the layout of a global service network, the construction of  arbitrators’ team, and the provision of full-chain cross-border dispute resolution services for Chinese enterprises going out. They also formed a more systematic and in-depth understanding of the development achievements of Chinese arbitration represented by CIETAC. All parties highly praised CIETAC’s positive contributions to the independent, impartial and efficient settlement of international commercial disputes and the promotion of international arbitration exchanges and cooperation, and sincerely looked forward to deepen practical cooperation with CIETAC and realize complementary advantages and win-win results based on the CIETAC platform.

(The CIETAC delegation holds a meeting with Accuracy)

(The CIETAC delegation holds talks with Jus Mundi)

During the stay in France, the CIETAC delegation also paid a special visit to Paris Panthéon-Assas University (Paris 2 Panthéon-Assas) . This university is the cradle of legal education in France and the main heir of the University of Paris Law School, the university has a legal tradition dating back to the 13th century. It has built an integrated legal talent training system covering undergraduate to doctoral programs, and ranks among the world’s top in  subfields including international arbitration, commercial law and international tax law. Taking the opportunity of participating in the Paris Arbitration Week, CIETAC and Panthéon-Assas University conducted in-depth discussions on the joint training of foreign-related legal talents and academic research exchanges, and reached extensive consensus on expanding multi-level practical cooperation.

(The CIETAC delegation visits Panthéon-Assas University)

The CIETAC delegation also conducted in-depth and practical exchanges with Ashurst LLP  and Signature Litigation  successively. The two sides fully exchanged views on key topics such as cross-border commercial arbitration practice, the application of China-France arbitration and mediation mechanisms, and the comparison of practical differences, shared cutting-edge experience and industry insights, and reached extensive consensus on deepening practical cooperation between the Chinese and French legal circles and synergistically safeguarding bilateral economic, trade and investment exchanges. These efforts have further consolidated the foundation of mutual trust, pooled cooperation forces, and provided a more solid dispute resolution guarantee for China-France and China-Europe economic and trade cooperation.

(The CIETAC delegation pays a visit to Ashurst LLP)

(The CIETAC delegation holds talks with Signature Litigation)

The CIETAC delegation’s trip to France featured a compact and practical schedule and achieved remarkable results. By hosting special seminars, participating in a series of conference discussions, visiting institutions and conducting in-depth exchanges, the delegation has further deepened the communication, mutual trust, and mutual learning between the Chinese and French arbitration and legal circles. This trip is of great significance for enhancing CIETAC’s international influence, expanding practical cooperation between the two sides, building cooperation consensus, and jointly promoting the innovative and integrated development of international arbitration. It will also provide a more solid and powerful legal guarantee for China-Europe economic and trade cooperation.