On 31 July 2025, China’s Ministry of Justice (MOJ) convened a symposium on foreign-related arbitration in Beijing, launching a program to nurture world-class international arbitration institutions with Chinese characteristics. In the first round, 22 arbitration institutions were selected as for targeted development.
China’s arbitration landscape has expanded significantly, now encompassing 285 institutions and a pool of over 60,000 arbitrators, including more than 3,400 experts from overseas. The growing demand for these services is reflected in 2024 data, which shows that 4,373 foreign-related cases were handled nationwide, representing a total disputed value of 197.8 billion yuan. These proceedings are increasingly viewed as essential infrastructure for supporting the country’s integration into the global economy.
Since the launch of pilot programs in 2022 across Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hainan, these regions have made substantial strides in building international commercial arbitration centers. Beijing has successfully fostered a comprehensive “ecosystem” for dispute resolution, while Shanghai has advanced local regulations and policy measures and saw a robust growth of 61% in foreign-related cases and 66% in total value between 2022 and 2024. In Guangdong province, the combined case values from Guangzhou and Shenzhen now account for 30% of the national total for foreign-related disputes.
The global standing of Chinese venues continues to rise, according to the “2025 International Arbitration Survey – The Path Forward: Realities and Opportunities in Arbitration” by Queen Mary University of London and White & Case. The report ranks Beijing, Shenzhen, and Shanghai among the world’s top ten most preferred arbitration seats. With major institutions like the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC), the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (SCIA), and the Beijing Arbitration Commission (BAC) each managing annual dispute values exceeding 100 billion yuan, China is rapidly emerging as a leading global destination for commercial dispute resolution.
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