On Feb 13, the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (also known as the South China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission, and Greater Bay Area International Arbitration Center, hereinafter referred to as the "SCIA") and the South China International Arbitration Center (HK) (SCIAHK) held the "Two Cities, Two Centers" Spring Reception event (hereinafter referred to as the "Shenzhen-Hong Kong Spring Reception") in Hong Kong SAR.

The event brought together over 100 representatives from the legal and business communities and international arbitration professionals from various places to discuss legal cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong SAR.

Paul Lam Ting-kwok, SBS, SC, secretary for Justice of the Department of Justice of Hong Kong SAR, attended the event and delivered a welcome speech. Liu Xiaochun, the president of SCIA and executive chairman of SCIAHK, released the 2024 SCIA&SCIAHK annual data report. Elsie Leung, council member of the SCIA and Director of SCIAHK, the first secretary for Justice of the Department of Justice of Hong Kong SAR; Liu Chunhua, council member of the SCIA, head of the Legal Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR; Peter Malanczuk, council member of the SCIA and professor at the University of Hong Kong; Guo Xiaohui, council member of the SCIA and executive officer of Shenzhen Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment; and Vong Hin Fai, council member of the SCIA and president of the Board of the Macao Lawyers Association (Associação dos Advogados de Macau), extended their New Year greetings to the participants. In their remarks, they highlighted ‌cross-regional arbitration synergies in the Greater Bay Area as a key approach to optimize arbitration services for globally expanding enterprises. Anthony Neoh, SC, vice chairman of the SCIA Council and chairman of the SCIAHK, delivered the concluding speech for the event.

During the Open Discussion Session, Victor Dawes, SC, past chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association; Dr. Jorge Neto Valente, past president of the Macau Lawyers Association; and Chen Xikang, SCIA arbitrator and past president of the Guangdong Lawyers Association, delivered speeches on hot topics in international arbitration practice.

Kwai Huen Wong, SCIA council member, former president of the Law Society of Hong Kong delivered a keynote speech on the ‌development trends of international arbitration‌. Over 100 international arbitration professionals engaged in-depth discussions on ‌cross-border arbitration cooperation within the Greater Bay Area‌.