The fifty-ninth session of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (“UNCITRAL”) was held at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 29 June to 10 July 2026. At the invitation of UNCITRAL, the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (“CIETAC”), in its capacity as an observer, sent a delegation comprising Kang Yi, CIETAC Arbitrator, Liu Leyang, Assistant Secretary-Generalof CIETAC Hubei Sub-Commission, and Sun Mingyang from CIETAC’s International Cases Division  to attend the session in person.

Convened in the year marking the sixtieth anniversary of UNCITRAL, this session was of particular significance. Delegates engaged in in-depth discussions on a range of core international trade law issues. The Commission completed the finalization of the statute of the Advisory Centre on International Investment Dispute Resolution,  which will be submitted to the United Nations General Assembly for consideration. The Commission also focused on the finalization of the supplementary provisions on the conduct of ISDS proceedings (WG III),  conducted article-by-article deliberation and revision of its provisions. In addition, the Commission considered the texts on arbitral awards and notices of arbitration in electronic form (WG II).  Delegates discussed the Commission’s work programme and working methods, covering such emerging areas as dispute resolution in the digital economy, the consolidation of e-commerce texts, paperless trade, decentralized autonomous organizations, digital payments and digital platforms.  The Commission also exchanged views on secured transactions, insolvency law and public procurement, and considered coordination and cooperation, non-legislative activities and other matters. 

During the session, the CIETAC delegation engaged in extensive and in-depth exchanges with the UNCITRAL Secretariat and other delegates, discussing cutting-edge issues including the recognition and enforcement of electronic arbitral awards, innovation in dispute resolution mechanisms in the context of the digital economy, and the future direction of investor-State dispute settlement reform.

Since becoming an observer to UNCITRAL in 2009, CIETAC has actively participated in UNCITRAL working group sessions and annual sessions, and has been deeply engaged in the research, promotion and practical implementation of international commercial law instruments, including the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (the “New York Convention”),  the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation (the “Singapore Convention on Mediation”),  the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods  and the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents.  Over the years, CIETAC and UNCITRAL have jointly organized a number of high-level forums and thematic seminars, contributing to the coordinated development of the international arbitration system and greater connectivity among global dispute resolution mechanisms. The year 2026 marks both the sixtieth anniversary of UNCITRAL and the seventieth anniversary of CIETAC. At this important historical juncture, CIETAC will continue to leverage UNCITRAL’s multilateral platform to participate extensively in the discussion and formulation of international commercial law rules, share its practical experience and proactively contribute the perspectives of the arbitration community. At the same time, CIETAC will continue to draw on its professional strengths, actively learn from and incorporate the latest developments in international arbitration, amplify China’s voice and offer Chinese solutions, thereby further advancing the high-quality development of arbitration in China.