African Center for international arbitration

On October 3, a delegation of Chinese lawyers launched a three-day visit.

The delegation consists of members from many well-known domestic law firms, including Shanghai Minsheng Law Firm, Beijing Deheng Law Firm, Beijing Haotian (Harbin) Law Firm and Jingcheng Panming (Hangzhou) Law Firm.

 

During the visit, both sides held in-depth exchanges on the existing experience and future development of international arbitration practices and Belt and Road legal services. They conducted focused discussions on topics including the current state of international arbitration in Africa and the protection of overseas rights and interests of Chinese-funded enterprises.

Zhang Zhijie, President of the African International Arbitration Centre, introduced the Centre’s core strengths to the delegation and elaborated on its pioneering Special Arbitration Rules featuring an integrated four-in-one mechanism: prevention, mediation, interim award and final confirmation. Addressing the overlapping disparities across Africa’s 54 countries in arbitration institutions, legal systems and languages, and the resulting risks in model clause agreements, he proposed approaches for localizing Chinese legal services. He also put forward feasible solutions to tackle adverse industry factors such as the priority of regional or domestic institutions and applicable laws, as well as obstacles encountered by Chinese-funded enterprises in safeguarding rights and conducting risk prevention and control in Africa.

 

 

 Both sides also exchanged views on practical cooperation directions for Chinese legal service institutions to carry out regional legal fact-finding and extended supporting arbitration services in Africa, and jointly explored the establishment of a cross-border legal service cooperation mechanism.

 

At the farewell dinner, Charles, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and Attorney General of Malawi, attended the event, with entrepreneurs and representatives of the General Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Malawi present as observers. Charles stated that the African International Arbitration Centre is an independent international arbitration institution jointly built by Malawi and China. Boasting inherent neutrality underpinned by a dual judicial system, it enjoys prominent advantages among arbitration institutions worldwide. He fully recognized the achievements made by IACA in Malawi since its establishment more than three years ago, and spoke highly of the Malawi Ministry of Justice Building project aided by the Chinese government. He expressed the expectation that arbitration institutions and law firms of the two countries would establish a long-term and stable exchange and cooperation mechanism.

 

On this occasion, Charles (Minister of Justice and Attorney General), together with persons-in-charge Zhang Zhijie, Zhang Zhiqin and Zhang Yunguang, awarded arbitrator appointment certificates to Zhu Yili, Director of Shanghai Minsheng Law Firm; Liu Junli from Beijing Deheng Law Firm; Wang Xiujuan from AnJie Broad Law Firm; Yang Jian from Beijing Haotian (Harbin) Law Firm; Duan Yanli from Beijing Jingping Law Firm; and Lan Zhaohui from Shanghai Jingcheng Panming (Hangzhou) Law Firm.