From 7 July to 23 July 2025, the 58th session of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) was held at the Vienna International Centre. The Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (SCIA), as the observer to UNCITRAL Working Group II (Dispute Settlement) and Working Group IV (Electronic Commerce), and the ad hoc observer to Working Group III (Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform), dispatched a delegation consisting of Xi Xiangyang, General Counsel of SCIA, and Meng Wei, Senior Legal Counsel of the Research Department of SCIA.

The session elected Julia Villatoro, Ambassador of El Salvador in Vienna, as chairperson. The session saw the approval of the draft convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents and other guiding instruments in the field of international investment and trade law. Participants deliberated on and adopted progress reports from all working groups, yielding substantial outcomes. The SCIA delegation actively participated in discussions and deliberations on key topics including the draft Toolkit on Prevention and Mitigation of International Investment Disputes and the operation of the Advisory Centre on International Investment Dispute Resolution. The delegation also presented SCIA's pioneering rules framework in international investment arbitration and shared updates on the Foreign Direct Investment International Arbitration Moot Shenzhen (FDI Moot Shenzhen).

During the session, the SCIA delegation met with Ms. Anna Joubin-bret, Secretary of UNCITRAL. They also engaged in in-depth exchanges with the Chinese government delegation and representatives from participating institutions including the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC) , the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Arbitration Centre (OIC-AC), the Asian Academy of International Law (AAIL), and the China Society of Private International Law (CSPIL). The delegation shared recent reform and innovation initiatives in international arbitration within the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, exchanged views on cutting-edge issues in international arbitration, and reached consensus on further cooperation.

Group photo of all participants at the 58th Session of UNCITRAL

Xi Xiangyang, General Counsel of SCIA, participated in session deliberations.

The SCIA delegation engaged with the Chinese government delegation.

The SCIA delegation met with Ms. Anna Joubin-bret, Secretary of UNCITRAL.

The SCIA delegation met with Ms. Anna Joubin-bret, Secretary of UNCITRAL.