This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. Over the past four decades, "the miracle of Shenzhen", from a small fishing town to an internationally important city, truly demonstrates the effectiveness and success of China's reform and opening-up.
Established in 1983, the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (also known as the South China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission, Greater Bay Area International Arbitration Center, hereinafter the "SCIA") was born for China's reform and opening-up, for the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone's development, and for fostering economic cooperation between the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, and Macao. Reform, openness, and innovation have always been the three key words for the development of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, and also the three key spirits driving SCIA's advancement in the internationalization and modernization of China's arbitration.
As a pioneer arbitration institution in China, alongside China's reform and opening-up and the development of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, the SCIA has created numerous precedents in the history of Chinese arbitration: in 1984, it became the first arbitration institution in China to include foreign professionals on its panel of arbitrators; in 1989, it's arbitral award was nationally the first to be recognized and enforced in overseas jurisdictions in accordance with the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (New York Convention); in 2012, it pioneered the implementation of statutory body corporate governance structure globally; in 2016, it was the first to establish negotiation facilitation rules in China; in 2017, it became the first in China to establish overseas hearing centers; in 2018, it completed the first merger of permanent arbitration institutions in Asia; and in 2021, it set up China's first arbitration center for the securities and futures industry. These practices, especially the reforms and innovations since 2012, have significantly advanced the internationalization and modernization of arbitration in China and contributed to a market-oriented, internationalized and rule-of-law business environment. As a result, the SCIA's credibility and global influence have been enhanced year by year. From 2012 to 2024, the number of commercial arbitration cases accepted by the SCIA increased from 242 to 14,518, with the amount in dispute rising from RMB 3.9 billion to RMB 142.267 billion, ranking among the top three according to published statistics from arbitration institutions worldwide. In 2024, the SCIA accepted 520 international commercial arbitration cases, including one with a dispute amount exceeding RMB 30 billion—the largest case ever administered by an arbitration institution in Asia. As of August 1, 2025, the parties involved have cumulatively covered143 countries and regions. Currently, the SCIA panel comprises 2,078 arbitrators from 129 countries and regions, among which, 725 arbitrators (34.89%) are from overseas jurisdictions. In 2025, the International Arbitration Survey conducted by Queen Mary University of London and White & Case ranked the SCIA Arbitration Rules among the top ten most preferred arbitration rules globally while Shenzhen was recognized as one of the five most preferred seats of arbitration globally.
On the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, the SCIA has produced this special web-chapter to review the development of international arbitration in the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone.
