MOJ to advance cultivation of world-class arbitration institutions

The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) held a symposium on foreign-related arbitration on July 31, with a focus on thoroughly studying and implementing the important instructions made by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on strengthening foreign-related rule of law, and implementing the relevant arrangements outlined at the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee.

The symposium aimed to accelerate the high-quality development of foreign-related arbitration and advance the MOJ's initiative to cultivate world-class arbitration institutions with Chinese characteristics. Minister of Justice He Rong addressed the symposium.

The symposium emphasized that arbitration, as an internationally recognized mechanism for resolving commercial disputes, plays a vital role in serving economic development and opening-up. It underscored the need to steadfastly follow the path of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics and to continuously strengthen Party-building in the arbitration sector. Arbitration practitioners were urged to adhere to the principle of upholding the leadership of the CPC and the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics as fundamental professional requirements.

The symposium called for efforts to expedite the development of world-class arbitration institutions with Chinese characteristics. Focus will be placed on the development of international commercial arbitration centers in line with major national strategies, such as the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Hainan Free Trade Port.

The symposium also highlighted the need to continuously improve the arbitration system and rules with Chinese characteristics that are aligned with international norms, and enhance the international influence and competitiveness of China's arbitration services.

Furthermore, the symposium stressed the importance of improving the training system for foreign-related arbitration professionals. Support will be extended to key law schools for the development of arbitration-related disciplines, strengthening collaborative education, and cultivating a practice-oriented team of high-caliber arbitration professionals.

In addition, the symposium urged efforts to ‌strengthen international exchanges and cooperation in arbitration, and support Chinese arbitration institutions in going global, actively participating in the formulation of ‌international commercial dispute resolution rules‌, and contributing to high-level opening-up.

Vice-Minister of Justice Li Mingzheng presided over the symposium. Eleven speakers, including representatives from judicial administrative agencies and arbitration institutions, as well as experts, delivered speeches. Representatives from the inaugural group of 22 arbitration institutions involved in the MOJ's cultivation project were in attendance.