Guangxi enhances foreign-related legal services to support enterprises' expansion in ASEAN

The Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region in South China, actively aligning itself with the Belt and Road Initiative, has consistently refined its foreign-related legal service framework to support local enterprises in their expansion into the ASEAN market. Through three key measures — strengthening service platforms, optimizing legal services, and building a robust talent pool — the region has achieved notable progress. In 2025 alone, Guangxi handled 45 foreign-related arbitration cases with a total value of 149 million yuan ($22.05 million).

Strengthening service platforms to build a core hub for foreign-related dispute resolution

Guangxi has made significant strides in developing foreign-related service platforms, positioning itself as a central hub for foreign-related dispute resolution. The region has spearheaded the establishment of an arbitration center with a focus on ASEAN. In collaboration with 15 domestic and overseas organizations, including the ASEAN Law Association, the Asian Institute of Alternative Dispute Resolution, and the Vietnam-China International Commercial Arbitration Center, Guangxi has set up the China-ASEAN Commercial Arbitration Cooperation Center.

Meanwhile, the region has formulated guiding documents for foreign-related dispute resolution such as the Guidelines on Ad Hoc Arbitration for the China (Guangxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) and the Practical Guidelines for Dispute Resolution in Guangxi's Financial Sector. These efforts have promoted diversified resolution of commercial disputes and provided arbitration services to support China-ASEAN economic and trade exchanges and regional economic development.

Guangxi has also improved its local dispute resolution network, exemplified by the establishment of the Guangxi International Civil and Commercial Mediation Center, along with public legal service centers in the three areas of the China (Guangxi) Pilot FTZ — Nanning, Qinzhou Port, and Chongzuo.

These centers, equipped with professional legal service institutions such as the mediation center, the Beibu Gulf Notary Office, and the Nanning International Arbitration Court, have integrated four resources — legal counsel, notarization, arbitration, and mediation — to form a comprehensive service matrix. To date, services have been provided to over 72,000 individuals, and 58 foreign-related mediation cases have been resolved.

Improving legal services to support enterprises' ASEAN expansion

Guangxi has proactively tailored its legal offerings to meet the specific needs of businesses expanding into the ASEAN market. The region has expanded its service network by fostering the growth of foreign-related legal service institutions, with 12 Guangxi-based law firms establishing 14 branches in six ASEAN countries, including Vietnam, Laos, and Malaysia.

Additionally, over 40 law firms within the region have signed strategic cooperation agreements with more than 20 legal service institutions in ASEAN countries such as Vietnam and Singapore, effectively supporting Guangxi enterprises' ventures in ASEAN countries.

Moreover, Guangxi has established foreign-related legal service platforms dedicated to local industrial parks, such as the Pingxiang Industrial Park. These platforms offer tailored services to foreign trade enterprises and cross-border investors, including contract compliance review, targeted policy interpretation, and early warnings of overseas risks. Judicial service windows have also been set up to provide one-stop solutions for approvals, examinations, and coordination.

In addition, large artificial intelligence (AI) models have been applied to address ASEAN-related legal challenges. Collaborating with Guangxi Minzu University, the region has developed the China-ASEAN Legal Consultation AI System. This tool enables enterprises to retrieve, compare, and translate ASEAN legal provisions, effectively overcoming key challenges in foreign-related legal services, including language barriers and difficulties in ascertaining foreign law.

Strengthening talent cultivation to build a robust foreign-related talent pool

A foundational pillar of Guangxi's foreign-related legal service enhancement efforts is the cultivation of specialized foreign-related legal professionals. The region has intensified its training programs for foreign-related talent, focusing on cultivating foreign-related judges, prosecutors, and legal service personnel including lawyers, arbitrators, and notaries, to enhance the overall capacity of foreign-related legal services.

Since 2025, Guangxi has held two training sessions for foreign-related legal talent and two specialized training sessions for high-level foreign-related judges, with 135 professionals participating.

Guangxi has fostered Sino-Vietnamese talent exchanges through joint training. Focusing on legal issues related to cross-border standard-gauge railways, the region organized a joint training session for Chinese and Vietnamese lawyers, with 41 Chinese and 16 Vietnamese lawyers participating. This has effectively promoted pragmatic cooperation in the rule of law between China and Vietnam.

Efforts have also been made to strengthen the development of a foreign-related legal talent pool, with a targeted focus on foreign-related lawyers, arbitration, and notarization. Currently, the pool includes 157 foreign-related lawyers, 189 arbitrators from foreign countries as well as China's Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and Taiwan region, and 146 notaries qualified for foreign-related notarization.