On November 9, 2019, the 9th South China Business & Law Forum, organized by the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (SCIA) with the support of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, convened to discuss how to strengthen legal cooperation and innovation among Guangdong, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the Macao SAR.

Themed "Chinese Enterprises and Resolution of International Commercial Disputes", the forum centered on two key topics: "Innovation of the International Commercial Dispute Resolution System and Construction of Demonstration Zones" and "Connection of Arbitration Rules in the Greater Bay Area: Interim Measures and Enforcement of Awards".

With the support of institutions such as the Supreme People's Court (SPC), the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Commerce, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC), the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR, the Administrative and Legal Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, as well as courts and relevant departments at all levels in the provinces and cities, more than 600 executives, experts, senior lawyers, arbitrators and judges from home and abroad converged to deliberate on the refinement of international commercial dispute resolution mechanisms and rules.

The forum comprised an opening ceremony, two thematic sessions and a closing ceremony.

During the opening ceremony, Wang Lixin, Vice Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, extended a warm welcome on behalf of the Shenzhen government. He underscored the city's commitment to leveraging the advantages of the "Dual Zones" and creating a premier market-oriented, law-based and international business environment, with a focus on building an international arbitration hub.

Luo Dongchuan, Vice-President of the SPC, emphasized the practical significance of the forum's theme and highlighted the SPC's initiatives to support the development of a diversified resolution mechanism for international commercial disputes. Jiang Jing, a first-level inspector from the Public Legal Service Management Bureau of the Ministry of Justice, emphasized the importance of seizing historic opportunities to enhance dispute resolution services and the construction of a law-based business environment in the Greater Bay Area. Xiao Fuquan, a first-level inspector from the Policy and Regulations Bureau of the SASAC, stressed the need to enhance enterprise risk prevention and dispute resolution capabilities in the face of the challenges posed by globalization.

Rimsky Yuen, SC, Council Member of the SCIA and former Secretary for Justice of the Department of Justice of Hong Kong SAR, highlighted the SCIA's efforts in serving the legal construction of the Greater Bay Area. Ty Lee, a Senior Assistant Legal Policy Commissioner of the Department of Justice of the Hong Kong SAR Government, emphasized Hong Kong's role in promoting trials in the Greater Bay Area and implementing opening measures. Liu Dexue, Director of the Legal Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, expressed Macao's commitment to enhancing commercial dispute resolution capabilities and legal cooperation among the three regions.

Following the speeches, the 9th South China Business & Law Forum appointed its new chairmanship team, comprising legal counsels from 15 prominent enterprises, including China Southern Airlines, China Construction, China Merchants Group, China Resources Land, Huawei, Tencent, Alibaba and Baidu. The ceremony concluded with the presentation of letters of appointment to the 9th chairmanship of the South China Business & Law Forum.

In the keynote speech, Gao Xiaoli, Vice-President of the SPC's No 4 Civil Court and Judge of the China International Commercial Court, introduced in detail the SPC's exploration of the "one-stop" mechanism for diversified settlement of international commercial disputes in terms of the establishment of the China International Commercial Court, the working system and rules, and the first batch of case commentaries. Dr. Liu Xiaochun, President of the SCIA, introduced to the participants the innovation of the "Optional Appellate Arbitration Procedure" in the new SCIA arbitration rules to the participants under the title of "Innovative Practice of China's Arbitration Review Mechanism in Shenzhen". In his speech, Dr. Liu Xiaochun analysed the four levels of the finality of arbitral awards, the overseas experience of the "appeal mechanism", the path of the "appeal mechanism" in China, and the proposed revision of China's Arbitration Law. The benefits of the finality of arbitral awards and the "Optional Appellate Arbitration Procedure" are analysed in detail, so as to provide the parties with the most efficient and flexible dispute resolution services when applying for arbitration. It offers a new option for parties to obtain maximum substantive relief when submitting arbitration to the SCIA without compromising the efficiency and advantages brought by the finality of arbitral award

In conclusion, the 9th South China Business & Law Forum served as a platform for stakeholders to exchange insights and explore strategies to enhance legal cooperation and build the business environment in the Greater Bay Area, underscoring the region's commitment to fostering a world-class business environment driven by innovation, cooperation and the rule of law.

On-site photo of the forum.

Dr. Liu Xiaochun, President of the SCIA presided over the opening ceremony.

Wang Lixin, Vice Mayor of Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, delivered a welcome speech.

Luo Dongchuan, Vice-President of the SPC, delivered an opening speech.

Jiang Jing, a First-Level Inspector of the Public Legal Services Administration of the Ministry of Justice, delivered an opening speech.

Xiao Fuquan, a First-Level Inspector of the Policy and Regulations Bureau of the SASAC, delivered an opening speech.

Rimsky Yuen, SC, Council Member of the SCIA and former Secretary for Justice of the Department of Justice of the Hong Kong SAR, delivered an opening speech.

LEE Tin-yan, Senior Assistant Solicitor General of the Legal Policy Division of the Department of Justice of the Hong Kong SAR, delivered an opening speech. 

Liu Dexue, Director of the Legal Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, delivered an opening speech.

A group photo of some members of the Presidium of the 9th South China Business & Law Forum

A group photo of the SCIA's new council member appointment letter issuance

A group photo of attending guests

Jiang Xilin, Council Member of the SCIA and Director of the Justice Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, presided over the first session.

Gao Xiaoli, Vice-President of the SPC's No 4 Civil Court and Judge of the China International Commercial Court, delivered a special speech.

Huang Zhijian, Vice-President of the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court, delivered a special speech.

Dr. Liu Xiaochun, President of the SCIA, gave a keynote speech.

Huang Yaying, Member of the SCIA Council and Dean of the School of Intellectual Property at Shenzhen University, presided over the second session of the special seminar.

Li Mintao, Judge of the No 4 Civil Court of the Guangdong Provincial High People's Court, delivered a keynote speech.

Feng Dong, Equity Partner at Zhonglun Law Firm, gave a special speech.

Fei Ning, Executive Partner at Huizhong Law Firm, made a comment.

Liu Zhong, General Counsel of China Resources Land Limited, made a comment.

Hu Qin, Deputy Director of the Risk Management Department/Legal Compliance Department of China Merchants Group Co Ltd, made a comment.

Wang Yu, Assistant to the President and General Counsel of the Legal Affairs Department of China International Shipping Container (Group) Co Ltd, made a comment.

Kwai Huen Wong, Council Member of the SCIA, Chairman of the Board of Review (Inland Revenue Ordinance) Inland Revenue  Department of the Hong Kong SAR,  Former President of the Law Society of Hong Kong, Former Chairperson of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Center (HKIAC), presided over the second session of the seminar.

Zhang Yan, Partner at Sidley Austin Law Firm, delivered a keynote speech.

Prof. Chen Lei, Vice-Dean of the School of Law at City University of Hong Kong, delivered a keynote speech.

Vong Sok Hei Rosita, Secretary General of the Arbitration Center of the World Trade Center in Macao, delivered a keynote speech.

Lu Song, professor of international law at the School of Foreign Affairs, made a comment.

Qin Yuxiu, General Counsel of China State Construction Corp Ltd, made a comment.

Thomas So, Partner of Mayer Brown and former President of the Law Society of Hong Kong, made a comment.

Ho, Wilfred Zhirui, Associate of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, made a comment.

Si Yanli, Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Judicial Affairs Office of the Research Office of the SPC, delivered a keynote speech.

Guo Xiaohui, Council Member of the SCIA, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Shenzhen Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment, presided over the closing ceremony.

Yao Jun, Chairman of the 8th South China Business & Law Forum and former Chief Lawyer of Ping An Insurance (Group) Co, Ltd, of China, delivered a speech.

Chen Weihua, Chairman of the 9th South China Business & Law Forum  and General Counsel r of China Southern Airlines Co, Ltd, delivered a speech.

Handover of the Chairmanship of the South China Business & Law Forum.

Prof. Shen Sibao, Chairman of the SCIA Council, Chairman of China International Economic and Trade Law Association presented a forum advisory plaque to Yao Jun, Chairman of the 8th South China Business & Law Forum and former Chief Lawyer of Ping An Insurance (Group) Co, Ltd, of China.

Prof. Shen Sibao, Chairman of the SCIA Council, Chairman of China International Economic and Trade Law Association, delivered the closing speech.

A group photo of SCIA staff