Chongqing advances foreign-related rule of law to support high-level opening-up

In recent years, the Chongqing Municipal Bureau of Justice has actively advanced the high-quality foreign-related rule of law. By continuously consolidating the legal foundation for a world-class, market-oriented, law-based, and international business environment, it has provided solid legal support for Chongqing's high-level opening-up and the high-quality development of its open economy.

To better support local enterprises in going global, the municipal justice bureau has established legal advisory teams and compliance task forces. Through a customized "one enterprise, one policy" mechanism, it offers enterprises whole-process and professional legal support in key areas such as major project negotiations, contract signing, risk prevention and control, and dispute resolution.

Currently, 21 law firms in Chongqing have established partnerships with counterparts in multiple Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, further strengthening legal safeguards for enterprises expanding overseas. 

Being a pilot city for building an international commercial arbitration center in China's central and western regions, Chongqing has also enhanced its arbitration capacity. The Chongqing Arbitration Commission (CQAC) has signed cooperation agreements with 15 renowned international arbitration institutions, further expanding its foreign-related arbitration service network. Its arbitration awards have been recognized and enforced in more than 20 countries and regions, including the United States and the United Kingdom.

The CQAC has released practical guidelines on international arbitration in ASEAN countries and typical foreign-related cases. It has also formed an international arbitrator roster, including 70 overseas experts. Moving forward, the commission will expand its outreach in Southeast Asian countries to offer practical arbitration guidance for Chinese enterprises investing in the region.

In addition, four notary institutions in Chongqing have joined the national pilot program for overseas remote video notarization, playing a significant role in areas such as cross-border enforcement witnessing and foreign-related notarization for civil and commercial matters.

Notably, the Chongqing Zhongxin Notary Office, in collaboration with notary institutions in the Hong Kong Special Administration Region, has effectively addressed challenges such as geographical barriers, legal alignment, and evidence identification in enforcement of judgments, which demonstrates the pivotal role of notary institutions as procedural bridges and legal safeguards in cross-border intellectual property enforcement.

As Chongqing continues to position itself as a critical hub for inland opening-up, the city remains dedicated to advancing its "Legal Support for Opening-Up" initiative, and will further develop and utilize platforms such as the New International Western Land-Sea Trade Corridor International Legal Services District and the International Commercial Arbitration Forum on the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. These efforts will support local enterprises in expanding overseas, and provide high-quality legal safeguards for Chongqing's high-level opening-up.