Edwin Tong, Singapore's Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs, visited the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (also known as the Greater Bay Area International Arbitration Center and the South China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission, hereinafter referred to as the "SCIA") on 27 May 2026.

At the SCIA Tower, SCIA's international headquarters in Qianhai, Mr. Tong met with Shen Sibao, Chairman of the SCIA Council, and Liu Xiaochun, President of the SCIA.

This was Mr Tong's second visit to SCIA. During the visit, the delegation toured the SCIA History Gallery and gained an in-depth understanding of the development of international arbitration in Shenzhen since China's reform and opening-up. The two sides held discussions on the role of international arbitration in promoting trade and economic ties between China and Singapore, and explored opportunities for further cooperation under the Guangdong-Singapore Collaboration Council and the Singapore-China (Shenzhen) Smart City Initiative.

On 28 May, the two sides held a symposium to discuss the latest developments in smart arbitration and share practical experience.

China and Singapore enjoy a long-standing, close and friendly partnership. In 2008, the two countries signed the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, the first comprehensive bilateral free trade agreement China concluded with an Asian country. Singapore is also a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). 

In recent years, supported by various China-Singapore cooperation mechanisms, exchanges between the business and legal communities of the two countries have become increasingly frequent. SCIA has sent delegations to Singapore on multiple occasions and co-organised events with Singapore's legal community. It has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of the Republic of Singapore, represented by the Ministry of Law, to jointly establish an SCIA branch in Singapore. Representatives from Singapore's Ministry of Law and Supreme Court have also visited SCIA on several occasions.

Looking ahead, SCIA will continue to deepen practical cooperation with Singapore's legal community. The planned Singapore branch is expected to facilitate cross-border business activities and further advance bilateral economic and trade relations. As Shenzhen prepares to host the APEC Economic Leaders' Informal Meeting this year, SCIA looks forward to strengthening its ties with Singapore and contributing to the development of a regional dispute resolution hub for the Asia-Pacific.

Wee Mei Mei, Consul General of Singapore in Guangzhou; Shi Xiaohui, Director of the Legal Industry & Talent Development Division and Special Affairs Officer in the Minister's Office at Singapore's Ministry of Law; Huang Guoyong, Assistant President and Director of the International Cooperation and Development Department of the SCIA; and Xia Xiao, Director of the Legal Affairs Cooperation Division of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, also attended the symposium.