On 21 March 2026, 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 referred to as "SCIA") hosted the 14th South China Business & Law Forum (B&L Forum) in Qianhai, Shenzhen.

With 2026 designated as the APEC China Year, the forum focused on APEC-related issues, cross-border operations and dispute resolution. Fifteen SCIA chief representatives from 12 APEC economies, including Singapore, Malaysia, the United States, Russia and Chinese Taipei, delivered keynote speeches, interpreting the legal systems and business environments of APEC economies for enterprises expanding overseas.

The event brought together more than 600 corporate executives, general counsels, senior lawyers, SCIA arbitrators, government representatives and experts and scholars from 20 countries and regions, including China, the US, Russia, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Chile, Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Germany and the UK. Together, they explored how enterprises can mitigate risks, resolve disputes and enhance certainty amid an increasingly uncertain international landscape.

Liu Xiaochun, President of the SCIA and Executive Chairman of the South China International Arbitration Center (HK) (SCIAHK), delivered a welcome speech.

Chen Xudong, Director of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Justice, delivered a remark.

Yang Xiangbin, Director of the Bureau of Public Legal Services Administration of the Ministry of Justice of the PRC, delivered a remark.

A certificate presentation ceremony for SCIA chief representatives was also held during the forum. Officials including Yang Xiangbin, Director of the Bureau of Public Legal Services Administration of the Ministry of Justice of the PRC; Chen Xudong, Director of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Justice; Wang Bo, Former Chairman of the Legislative Affairs Committee of the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress; Cao Saixian, Director General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Shenzhen Municipal People's Government; and Xia Sha, Deputy Director of the Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone of Shenzhen, presented certificates to 15 senior SCIA arbitrators and industry experts from 12 APEC economies.

Following the ceremony, the 15 SCIA chief representatives delivered professional insights on the theme "Advice for Chinese Enterprises: Business Environments and Legal Systems of APEC Economies". The session was moderated by Peng Yanbing, Deputy Legal Counsel of the International Cooperation and Development Department of the SCIA.

SCIA chief representative from Chinese Taipei, Helena Chen.

SCIA chief representative from the US, Mark Feldman.

SCIA chief representative from the US, Peter Neumann.

SCIA chief representative from Russia, Anna Grishchenkova.

SCIA chief representative from Australia, Peter Howard Corne.

SCIA chief representative from Papua New Guinea, Andrew Kuria.

SCIA chief representative from Chile, Francisco Blavi.

SCIA chief representative from the Republic of Korea, Sang Yop Kang.

SCIA chief representative from Japan, Motohiro Yamane.

SCIA chief representative from Singapore, Jern-Fei Ng.

SCIA chief representative from Thailand, Noppramart Thammateeradaycho.

SCIA chief representative from Vietnam, Vu Thi Que.

SCIA chief representative from Vietnam, He Dong.

SCIA chief representative from Malaysia, Dato' Lim Chee Wee.

SCIA chief representative from the UAE, Patrick Dransfield.

A roundtable discussion followed, featuring 4 arbitrators of SCIA: Dong Quanxue, General Counsel of China Huadian Corporation; Zhao Jie, General Manager of the Intellectual Property and Legal Affairs Division of BYD; Gao Huandong, Vice President and China General Counsel of Lenovo Group; and Zhou Jiaxing, Compliance Director and Head of Legal Compliance at China International Capital Corporation. They explored the theme "Legal Risks and Response Strategies for Chinese Enterprises Expanding into APEC Markets". The discussion was moderated by Chi Wenhui, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation and Development Department of the SCIA.

Anthony Neoh SC, Vice Chairman of the SCIA Council, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SCIAHK, Former Chairman of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, delivered the concluding remarks.

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

The event was moderated by Huang Guoyong, Assistant President and Director of the International Cooperation and Development Department of the SCIA.

Several Highlights.