CIETAC creates new platform for nurturing young foreign-related legal talents

The China Youth Arbitration Forum, an important event of China Arbitration Week, had its focuses on the future development of China's youth arbitration talents, cultivation of legal talents with high-quality expertise in foreign-related legal fields, and consolidating the foundation for nurturing these talents.

"Young people represent an emerging force in China's arbitration work, and they will play a pivotal role in advancing the arbitration cause in China. Nowadays, a growing number of youth arbitrators have demonstrated their talents, becoming a significant strength in promoting China's arbitration cause," said Xie Changqing, vice-president of the Arbitrators of the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC).

At present, the CIETAC's panel comprises 1,897 arbitrators. Among them, 141 arbitrators are under the age of 45, accounting for about 7.5 percent of the total, while about 20.4 percent is under the age of 50. The number of youth arbitrators has seen an increase on a year-on-year basis, Xie said.

To actively respond to the country's efforts to cultivate legal talents engaged in foreign-related fields, the CIETAC has closely cooperated with law schools of universities across the country.

Last year, the CIETAC has carried out special activities, in collaboration Peking University, the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), Tianjin University, Fuzhou University and Jilin International Studies University, in a bid to establish a new platform for university students and youth lawyers to gain insights of international arbitration and promote international arbitration in school campuses.

"The special activities play an important role in encouraging students to understand the dispute resolution practice, especially in the realm of international arbitration. We hope to continuously deepen cooperation with the School of Transnational law of Peking University and promote the cultivation of foreign-related legal talents and the arbitration cause in China jointly," said an official of the CIETAC's South China branch, who participated in the special activity hosted at Peking University.

The CIETAC organized an international commercial arbitration moot court at the UIBE during the arbitration week. "The activity has enriched channels for young students in participating in arbitration practices and has provided them with a window to gain exposure to arbitration cases while still in school," an official of the CIETAC added.

The China Youth Arbitration Forum has been consecutively held for 10 years, providing strong support for the cultivation of foreign-related legal talents and contributing to serving think tank construction on the rule of law in foreign-related fields.