To deeply serve the 6^thCICPE and build the "Arbitration + CICPE" rule of law brand, on April 17, the "Service Trade Opening of the Hainan FTP and Dispute Resolution Strategy Planning" Arbitration Symposium was successfully held in Haikou. The symposium was hosted by Hainan International Arbitration Court (HIAC) and co-organized by the Hainan Arbitration Association. The event brought together 60 arbitration experts, seasoned legal practitioners, and representatives from key enterprises. In-depth discussions were held on core topics including the safeguarding role of arbitration under institutional opening, innovative arbitration practices in the Hainan FTP, and full-process management of cross-border disputes, thereby building a solid legal safety barrier for the high-quality development of the FTP's service trade.

Keynote Speech: Anchoring the Opening Positioning, Highlighting the Safeguarding Value of Arbitration

The symposium was moderated by Chen Huajun, Vice President of HIAC. The keynote speech, titled "Institutional Opening of Service Trade and the Safeguarding Role of Arbitration," was delivered by Wang Shuai, Chairman of the HIAC. He pointed out that this year's CICPE is not only the "first major exhibition" of China in the opening year of the "15th Five-Year Plan" period but also the "debut" of the Hainan FTP after its full customs operations. It holds great significance for showcasing global consumption trends and presenting the achievements of Hainan's opening-up. The orderly promotion of service market opening and the high-quality development of the service trade cannot be achieved without a solid rule of law guarantee. As a key participant in the rule of law construction of the Hainan FTP and an important platform for service trade dispute resolution, HIAC is always committed to building a diversified dispute resolution mechanism that aligns with international standards and features Chinese characteristics, continuously improving its service capacity to create a highland for international commercial arbitration.

Wang Shuai emphasized that the CICPE is not only a meeting for openness and cooperation but also a commitment to the rule of law and trust. HIAC is willing to use the CICPE as a bridge and bond, working hand in hand with global enterprises, safeguarding fair trade with professional arbitration, and escorting open development with the power of the rule of law, providing more professional, efficient, and convenient arbitration services to CICPE exhibitors, Hainan FTP market entities, and global investors.

Thematic Sharing: Focusing on Institutional Innovation, Contributing Hainan FTP Practical Wisdom

During the thematic sharing session, five industry experts shared their insights on the institutional breakthroughs and practical achievements in the arbitration field within the Hainan FTP.

Huang Wenchao, Vice President of the Hainan Arbitration Association, spoke on "Arbitration Innovation in Hainan FTP: From Institutional Breakthrough to Practical Leadership," presenting a vibrant new landscape for international commercial dispute resolution in Hainan to the world.

Jiang Ling, an arbitrator of HIAC and a partner at Grandall Law Firm (Hainan), focused on "Leveraging the Full Customs Operation of Hainan FTP to Build a New Pattern for Maritime Arbitration Development." He deeply analyzed the characteristics of the shipping business after the FTP's full customs operation, proposed deepening institutional innovation and mechanism integration for maritime arbitration, and building a specialized maritime arbitration development framework to provide solid legal protection for the high-quality development of the Hainan FTP's shipping industry.

Ma Baotian, an arbitrator of HIAC and Director of Beijing Zhongwen Law Firm (Haikou), centered his presentation on "Exploration of Investment and Financing Service Opening and Dispute Resolution Mechanisms in the Hainan FTP." He proposed benchmarking against international advanced experiences of Hong Kong and Singapore to construct five core systems for investment and financing dispute resolution: arbitration mechanisms, mediation mechanisms, litigation-arbitration connection, mechanisms with Hainan characteristics, and supporting safeguards.

Qin Bo, an arbitrator of HIAC and Managing Partner of Valor Partners, provided an in-depth interpretation of the "Hainan International Arbitration Court Rules for Assisting Ad Hoc Arbitration" issued in November 2023. He pointed out that these rules represent a significant practical achievement of the Hainan FTP in implementing the policy of "supporting special international commercial arbitration," providing clear operational guidance for domestic and foreign parties to conduct ad hoc arbitration in the Hainan FTP.

Wang Min, an arbitrator of HIAC and Director of the Management Committee of Shanghai Duan & Duan Law Firm (Haikou), delivered a presentation titled "Synergistic Efforts to Build a New Ecology for Dispute Resolution in the Hainan FTP." He advocated for constructing an operational mechanism centered on "arbitration + mediation" to provide market entities with higher quality and more efficient legal services, creating a full-chain, internationalized new ecology for dispute resolution in the FTP.

Roundtable Discussion: Focusing on Enterprise Needs, Planning Full-Process Dispute Resolution Strategies

The roundtable discussion session was moderated by Liu Juan, Deputy Director of the International Commercial Mediation Center of HIAC, with the theme "Strategic Planning for Dispute Resolution in Cross-Border Trade."

The panelists included Zhao Yuping, Head of the Legal Department of Hainan Mining Co., Ltd.; Goh Siang Joo, an arbitrator of HIAC and Partner at Goh, Cheah&Chong; Wang Aihua, an arbitrator of HIAC and Director of Zhejiang Xingjia Law Firm; Michelle Wang, an arbitrator of HIAC and Senior Partner at Tahota Law Firm (Shenzhen); and Zhong Min, an arbitrator of HIAC and Director of Hainan Zuochen Law Firm. Aligning with the increasingly frequent cross-border trade activities in the Hainan FTP, the discussion delved into topics such as the design of arbitration clauses, cross-border evidence preservation, and post-dispute response strategies and enforcement pathways. The panelists unanimously agreed that enterprises should plan their dispute resolution strategies in advance, meticulously design arbitration clauses, and fully leverage the innovative arbitration systems of the FTP to achieve full-process risk control for cross-border transactions.

Building Consensus: Contributing to Making the FTP a Preferred Destination for International Dispute Resolution

This symposium precisely addressed the needs of the Hainan FTP's service trade opening and rule of law construction, building a bridge for communication between the arbitration community, the legal profession, and the business sector, and generating a series of practical and feasible recommendations. Participants widely expressed that the symposium offered both theoretical depth and practical guidance, providing clear direction for enterprises to prevent cross-border legal risks and scientifically plan dispute resolution pathways, while also consolidating consensus and clarifying the direction for the innovative development of the arbitration industry in the Hainan FTP.