Through seven decades of wind and rain, CIETAC has forged ahead with steadfast purpose and now sets sail anew toward greater horizons. On 24 July, a symposium marking the 70th anniversary of the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (“CIETAC”) was grandly held in Beijing. WAN Exiang, Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the 12th and 13th National People’s Congress,  sent a congratulatory letter. REN Hongbin, President of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (“CCPIT”) and Chairman of CIETAC ; TAO Kaiyuan, Vice President of the Supreme People’s Court and Grand Justice of the Second Rank;  and LI Mingzheng, Vice Minister of Justice,  attended the symposium and delivered remarks. NIE Wenhui, CCPIT Vice President and Vice-Chairman of CIETAC,  presided over the symposium and delivered concluding remarks. WANG Chengjie, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of CIETAC, read out congratulatory letters and messages from China and abroad and announced the recipients of the title of “Honorary Arbitrator” of CIETAC.

(Symposium venue)

More than one hundred participants gathered at the symposium, including leaders and officials from the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress,  the Supreme People’s Court, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, the Ministry of Justice,  the Ministry of Commerce,  the All China Lawyers Association,  the Beijing High People’s Court,  the Beijing Fourth Intermediate People’s Court  and the Beijing Financial Court;  heads of relevant departments and subordinate institutions of CCPIT and former CCPIT leaders; as well as CIETAC Vice Chairmen and representatives of its honorary arbitrators, arbitrators and staff. Together, they reviewed CIETAC’s arduous and enterprising journey over the past seventy years, comprehensively summarized its major achievements in serving China’s overall reform and opening-up, and in advancing the development of foreign-related rule of law, and jointly envisioned a new future in which Chinese arbitration advances confidently in the new era.

(Group photo of attendees)

In his remarks, President REN Hongbin noted that, as China’s first foreign-related arbitration institution, CIETAC set sail during the formative years of socialism, forged ahead through reform and opening-up, and stood at the forefront of the new era. It has led the development of arbitration in China, provided strong support for the development of foreign-related rule of law, served and safeguarded high-standard opening-up, and participated extensively in global rule-of-law governance, writing a remarkable chapter in the development of a world-class international arbitration institution. Against the backdrop of profound and complex changes unseen in a century and an international landscape increasingly marked by change and turbulence, arbitration faces both major opportunities and considerable challenges. He proposed strengthening rule-of-law guidance and fully implementing the newly revised Arbitration Law; focusing on improving quality and efficiency and accelerating the development of a world-class international arbitration institution; and broadening the global perspective and enhancing the international discourse power of Chinese arbitration. As CIETAC embarks on a new journey, it should earnestly put Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law  into practice, thoroughly study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions and the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee, and, with a more open approach, more pragmatic action and a longer-term vision, explore new paths in institutional development, open up new prospects for improving the quality and efficiency of arbitration, present a new outlook in international cooperation and achieve new results in talent development, thereby making greater contributions to promoting high-quality development, fostering a new development pattern and building an open world economy.

(REN Hongbin, President of CCPIT and Chairman of CIETAC, delivering remarks)

In her remarks, TAO Kaiyuan, Vice President of the Supreme People’s Court and Grand Justice of the Second Rank, stated that, over the past seventy years, CIETAC has led Chinese arbitration from alignment with international rules to active participation in shaping such rules, achieving a historic transition from following international developments to advancing alongside—and, in certain respects, leading—the global arbitration community. CIETAC has made positive contributions to China’s high-standard opening-up, the development of foreign-related rule of law and global rule-of-law cooperation. The Supreme People’s Court attaches great importance to arbitration, actively supports its development, upholds the finality and credibility of arbitral awards in accordance with law, and strives to foster an arbitration-friendly judicial environment. She expressed the hope that CIETAC would take the implementation of the newly revised Arbitration Law as an opportunity to make effective use of both domestic and international rules, set a world-class benchmark for arbitration institutions, and further enhance the credibility and international competitiveness of arbitration. Going forward, the Supreme People’s Court will continue to support CIETAC’s high-quality development, work with CIETAC to further develop diversified dispute resolution platforms, jointly establish China as a preferred venue for resolving international commercial disputes, and promote the steady and sustained development of China’s foreign-related arbitration in the new era.

(TAO Kaiyuan, Vice President of the Supreme People’s Court and Grand Justice of the Second Rank, delivering remarks)

In his remarks, Vice Minister of Justice LI Mingzheng noted that the formal implementation of the newly revised Arbitration Law has laid a solid institutional foundation for the development of arbitration in China. The Ministry of Justice has coordinated efforts to develop international commercial arbitration centers and implemented a program to cultivate world-class international arbitration institutions, ushering China’s arbitration sector into a new period of vigorous development. Over the past seventy years, CIETAC has made important contributions to China’s socialist economic development, particularly to reform and opening-up and the sound development of the socialist market economy. As a pioneer of Chinese arbitration, CIETAC is expected to seize the opportunity presented by the implementation of the newly revised Arbitration Law, lead innovation in arbitration institutions and rules, and play an exemplary and leading role in fostering a more standardized and orderly arbitration ecosystem in China; focus on cultivating a world-class international arbitration institution, extend arbitration services toward greater specialization and the higher end of the value chain, and continuously consolidate and enhance the CIETAC brand as a hallmark of “Chinese services” in international competition; and deepen international exchanges in arbitration, contribute more Chinese insights and expertise to international dispute resolution rules, standards and mechanisms, and build a new framework for higher-level cooperation in arbitration.

(Vice Minister of Justice LI Mingzheng delivering remarks)

(NIE Wenhui, Vice Chair of CCPIT and Vice Chairman of CIETAC, presiding over the symposium)

For seventy years, CIETAC has remained true to its principles, built enduring partnerships and earned acclaim across the five continents. WAN Exiang, Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the 12th and 13th National People’s Congress, has long attached great importance to the development of arbitration in China and has shown sustained care and support for CIETAC’s work. On the occasion of CIETAC’s 70th anniversary, WAN Exiang sent a special congratulatory letter, highly commending CIETAC’s important contributions over the past seventy years to conducting arbitration independently and impartially, advancing the development of foreign-related rule of law, deepening international exchanges and cooperation, and leading the development of the arbitration profession in China and abroad. He also expressed high expectations that CIETAC would continue to strengthen its arbitration service capabilities, enhance its credibility and international influence, and establish itself as a benchmark world-class international arbitration institution, encouraging CIETAC to continue forging ahead from this new starting point and achieve further success. Seventeen internationally renowned dispute resolution institutions from five continents, together with the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (“ICCA”), also sent congratulatory messages, fully recognizing CIETAC’s outstanding contributions to international arbitration and unanimously expressing their aspiration to deepen cooperation. These messages reflected the sincere attention and strong support of the global arbitration community for CIETAC’s seventy years of development and vividly demonstrated the growing global influence and cohesion of Chinese arbitration. Secretary General WANG Chengjie read out and presented the congratulatory letters and messages from China and abroad and expressed CIETAC’s gratitude. He stated that CIETAC would live up to the expectations placed upon it, faithfully fulfil its mission, promote mutual learning and integration, and jointly advance sound governance, striving to write a new chapter in which Chinese arbitration reaches across the globe and leads the times, and to bring to a changing world the power of arbitration to settle disputes, restore order, and promote openness and inclusiveness.

(A selection of congratulatory letters and messages from China and abroad)

For seventy years, the torch has been passed from generation to generation, with respect for law, impartiality and exemplary standards at its core. Looking back on CIETAC’s remarkable seventy-year journey—from exploring arbitration rules and pioneering practice to expanding its global presence and earning international recognition—every leap forward and every achievement embodies the wisdom, dedication and sincere contributions of CIETAC’s arbitrators. To recognize outstanding arbitrators who have made exceptional contributions to CIETAC over the years, and to strengthen the sense of honor, mission and responsibility among the wider community of arbitrators in serving the cause of arbitration, CIETAC decided, in accordance with the applicable measures and following deliberation by the CIETAC Arbitrator Qualification Review and Assessment Committee and approval by the CIETAC Chairman’s Meeting, to confer the title of “Honorary Arbitrator” on five arbitrators. At the symposium, Secretary General WANG Chengjie announced that Ms ZHANG Yuejiao, Mr YANG Liangyi, Mr Ulf Franke, Mr Donald Donovan and Mr J. Félix de Luis had been awarded the title of “Honorary Arbitrator” of CIETAC. He introduced their professional contributions and exemplary achievements and, on behalf of CIETAC, extended gratitude and congratulations to them.

(WANG Chengjie, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of CIETAC, reading out congratulatory letters and messages from China and abroad and announcing the recipients of the title of “Honorary Arbitrator” of CIETAC)

For seventy years, CIETAC has advanced with firm and resolute steps, pooling wisdom and collective strength to chart a new course. CIETAC’s achievements over the past seventy years would not have been possible without the long-standing and strong support of relevant state authorities, nor without the wisdom, commitment and professional dedication of generations of arbitrators who have upheld impartiality. During the exchange session, representatives of the Ministry of Commerce, the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council and the All China Lawyers Association, together with CIETAC Vice President and representatives of its honorary arbitrators and senior arbitrators, warmly congratulated CIETAC on its 70th anniversary, fondly recalled the early years of Chinese arbitration, and jointly envisioned a new blueprint for the high-quality development of arbitration.

(Symposium discussion)

YU Ning, Director General of the Department of Treaty and Law of the Ministry of Commerce,  stated that CIETAC and the Department of Treaty and Law have long worked side by side on the front line of developing foreign-related rule of law. As an observer to UNCITRAL, CIETAC has participated extensively in the reform of international dispute resolution mechanisms, continuously conducted research on emerging and cutting-edge issues such as the digital economy, actively supported participation in the formulation of international economic and trade rules, and made important contributions to negotiations and consultations on international investment conventions. The Department stands ready to work together with CIETAC to make it a preferred dispute resolution institution for enterprises expanding overseas and enterprises investing or operating in China.

(YU Ning, Director General of the Department of Treaty and Law of the Ministry of Commerce, speaking at the symposium)

LU Yunhua, Vice President of CIETAC and former Director of the State Council Legislative Affairs Office,  recalled his close relationship with CIETAC spanning more than thirty years. He commended CIETAC for achieving the “China speed” of arbitration development over the past seventy years and for its tireless and highly successful efforts to demonstrate to the world why Chinese arbitration works and why it is capable of succeeding.

(LU Yunhua, Vice President of CIETAC and former Director of the State Council Legislative Affairs Office, speaking at the symposium)

MA Zhengping, Deputy Director of the Civil Law Office of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress,  stated that CIETAC had contributed seventy years of extensive practical experience to the formulation and revision of the Arbitration Law and had offered pragmatic recommendations on matters including online arbitration during the first major revision of the Law in thirty years. He expressed the hope that CIETAC would make full and effective use of its arbitration rules and contribute to improving China’s foreign-related arbitration system in the new era.

(MA Zhengping, Deputy Director of the Civil Law Office of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, speaking at the symposium)

ZONG Zheng, Second-Level Inspector of the Department of Laws and Regulations of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council,  stated that CIETAC has, over the years, properly resolved economic and trade disputes across the Taiwan Strait, regularly organized cross-Strait seminars on economic and trade arbitration, and taken the lead in appointing professionals from China’s Taiwan region as arbitrators. CIETAC is also the only arbitration institution in the Mainland designated under the Cross-Strait Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement to resolve investment disputes through mediation. He expressed the hope that CIETAC would make new contributions to advancing the integrated development of cross-Strait relations.

(ZONG Zheng, Second-Level Inspector of the Department of Laws and Regulations of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, speaking at the symposium)

GAO Zicheng, President of the All China Lawyers Association,  stated that CIETAC has established a first-class platform for lawyers to apply their professional expertise, contribute the wisdom of the legal profession and support the development of arbitration. He expressed the hope that CIETAC would continue to consolidate the foundations of arbitral credibility, address practical challenges, expand its international influence, and work together with the All China Lawyers Association to advance the broader development of arbitration.

(GAO Zicheng, President of the All China Lawyers Association, speaking at the symposium)

ZHANG Yuejiao, CIETAC Honorary Arbitrator, Honorary Chairperson of the International Commercial Dispute Prevention and Settlement Organization,  and the first Chinese member and former Chairman of the WTO Appellate Body,  spoke with deep emotion and was visibly moved on several occasions. She reflected that receiving the title of “Honorary Arbitrator” of CIETAC stirred a multitude of emotions, as her decades-long career in foreign-related rule of law had begun at CIETAC, where she developed professionally before ultimately bringing China’s voice to the international stage. CIETAC has built a globally renowned Chinese arbitration brand through the sustained dedication of several generations of arbitration professionals. Against the backdrop of changes unseen in a century, she set out five expectations: upholding impartiality and credibility, serving the broader cause of opening-up, developing smart arbitration, deepening international cooperation and cultivating foreign-related legal talent. She expressed the hope that CIETAC would carry forward the pioneering spirit of arbitration predecessors such as REN Jianxin and TANG Houzhi, work with members of the arbitration community to build a world-class international commercial arbitration system, and contribute solid arbitral support to Chinese modernization and high-standard opening-up.

(ZHANG Yuejiao, Honorary Arbitrator of CIETAC, Honorary Chairperson of the International Commercial Dispute Prevention and Settlement Organization, and the first Chinese member and former Chairman of the WTO Appellate Body, speaking at the symposium)

GAO Xiqing, senior Arbitrator of CIETAC, former Professor at Tsinghua University Law School, former Vice Chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission,  and former President and Chief Investment Officer of China Investment Corporation,  reflected on CIETAC’s rapid development, which he had personally witnessed. He stated that CIETAC had laid a solid foundation for the development of arbitration in China and expressed the hope that, amid increasingly intense international competition, CIETAC would continue to play a leading role in the profession, remain true to its original commitment to service and seize new opportunities for the development of arbitration.

(GAO Xiqing, senior Arbitrator of CIETAC, former Professor at Tsinghua University Law School, former Vice Chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, and former President and Chief Investment Officer of China Investment Corporation, speaking at the symposium)

HUANG Jin, senior Arbitrator of CIETAC, Chairman of China Society of International Law,  and former President, Professor and doctoral supervisor of China University of Political Science and Law,  reviewed CIETAC’s remarkable achievements in the new era. He called upon all sectors to respond to the demands of high-standard opening-up in the new era and the broader eastward shift in the global arbitration landscape, and to work together to further enhance CIETAC’s reputation as a leading international arbitration institution.

(HUANG Jin, senior Arbitrator of CIETAC, Chairman of China Society of International Law, and former President, Professor and doctoral supervisor of China University of Political Science and Law, speaking at the symposium)

SHEN Sibao, senior Arbitrator of CIETAC and former Dean, Professor and doctoral supervisor of the Law School of the University of International Business and Economics,  reflected that his forty-year career in arbitration had begun at CIETAC and that his professional expertise had been nurtured by the institution. CIETAC has laid a cornerstone for the development of arbitration under the rule of law in China and for the growth of foreign-related arbitration, and has cultivated a large number of arbitration professionals through the CIETAC spirit of “vision, strategic perspective and innovation”, making it a premier academy for the development of professional arbitration practitioners.

(SHEN Sibao, senior Arbitrator of CIETAC and former Dean, Professor and doctoral supervisor of the Law School of the University of International Business and Economics, speaking at the symposium)

CAO Lijun, senior Arbitrator of CIETAC and Partner at Zhong Lun Law Firm,  has witnessed CIETAC’s vigorous development in three different capacities—as a case manager, an arbitrator and counsel in arbitration. He stated that CIETAC had shaped the foundations of his professional career and that its many years of training and professional development had given him the confidence to step onto the international arbitration stage. He called upon the new generation of arbitrators to carry forward the original commitment of their predecessors and strengthen arbitral credibility through high-quality awards.

(CAO Lijun, senior Arbitrator of CIETAC and Partner at Zhong Lun Law Firm, speaking at the symposium)

In his concluding remarks, Vice President NIE Wenhui  stated that the symposium had brought together CIETAC’s past, present and future; integrated arbitration theory, institutions and practice; and connected CIETAC’s development with Chinese arbitration and arbitration worldwide. The remarks and presentations by the guests combined strategic vision with warmth and breadth with depth, offering valuable insights and inspiring profound reflection. The symposium was simple and pragmatic in format, professional and efficient in organization, rich in content and filled with sincere emotion, and concluded with complete success.

For seventy years, CIETAC has remained true to its origins and advanced alongside the nation with unwavering commitment. A special exhibition of photographs and historical objects marking CIETAC’s 70th anniversary was presented at the symposium venue. Guests paused to view the exhibition, revisiting through archival materials and precious photographs CIETAC’s extraordinary journey of growth alongside New China’s foreign economic and trade development, and reflecting on its substantial achievements over the past seventy years in keeping pace with the times, advancing global commercial dispute resolution and promoting international economic and trade cooperation.

(Photographs from the thematic exhibition marking CIETAC’s 70th anniversary)

With strong momentum across the long journey ahead and weighty responsibilities calling for renewed endeavor, CIETAC moves forward once more. In 1956, to meet the needs of New China’s developing foreign trade, CIETAC was established in Beijing pursuant to a decision of the Government Administration Council of the Central People’s Government, marking the beginning of arbitration in China. From the formidable challenges of its founding years to its present standing as a world-renowned, first-class international arbitration institution, CIETAC has advanced in step with China’s reform and opening-up and alongside the development of international economic and trade relations. Upholding professionalism as its foundation and credibility as its core, CIETAC has left a distinctive Chinese imprint on the history of international arbitration and has become one of the world’s most important, influential and widely chosen international arbitration institutions. The symposium represented both a comprehensive review of CIETAC’s seventy-year development journey and a new starting point for building consensus, pooling strength and planning for the future. CIETAC will continue to respond to China’s strategic needs, uphold its commitment to impartiality, broaden its outlook of openness and shoulder the responsibilities of the times. It will continue to enhance the distinguished reputation of Chinese arbitration, strengthen its international influence and credibility, and strive to establish itself as a benchmark world-class international arbitration institution, thereby making new and greater contributions to developing China into a new destination for international commercial arbitration, serving high-standard opening-up and advancing Chinese modernization.