Wan Exiang, Vice Chairman of NPC Standing Committee and Chairman of KMT Central Committee, and Jiang Zengwei, Chairman of the CCPIT attended the ceremony

In order to support the construction of Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone, create a cross-strait trade and investment environment based on facilitation and legalization, the Arbitration Center Across the Straits was established in Pingtan by the CCPIT. On December 29, the inauguration ceremony of the Cross-strait Arbitration Center was held in Pingtan. The leaders attending the ceremony included Wan Exiang, Vice Chairman of NPC Standing Committee and Chairman of KMT Central Committee, Chairman of the CCPIT Jiang Zengwei, Member of the NPC Standing Committee Wang Shengming,Vice President of the Supreme People's Court He Rong, Vice Director of the NPC Foreign Affairs Committee and Vice President of KMT Central Committee Xiu Fujin, Deputy Director of Fujian Provincial NPC Standing Committee Deng Liping, and Vice Governor of Fujian Province Liang Jianyong. The ceremony was also attended by Li Huidong, Member of the NPC Committee for Internal and Judicial Affairs and Secretary-General of KMT Central Committee; Lu Yunhua, Vice Director of the preparation team for China Arbitration Association of Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council; Liu Jingdong, Deputy Chief Judge of the Fourth Civil Court of the Supreme People's Court; Tang Zhengrui, Deputy Director of Laws and Regulations Bureau of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office; Kang Wen, Associate Counsel of Department of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs of Ministry of Commerce; Fu Yueyu, Deputy Director of Investigation Department of KMT Central Committee. Cai Bisong, Member of the CAA attended the ceremony on behalf of the arbitration association. Some 200 representatives from the business and arbitration circle witnessed the important moment in history. Vice Chairman of the CCPIT Yin Zonghua chaired the ceremony.

CCPIT Chairman Jiang Zengwei made a speech at the ceremony

 CCPIT Vice ChairmanYin Zonghua chaired the ceremony

Jiang Zengwei said，as a general way for dispute resolution, arbitration is endowed with the unique advantages including autonomy of will of the parties, civil judge, lawsuits settled by specialists, efficiency and flexibility, thus enjoying popularity among cross-strait enterprises. Setting up the arbitration center in Pingtan, in line with creating a business environment based on facilitation and legalization and furthering cross-strait business ties, is what the cross-strait business circles expect. He added, the center can provide nearby arbitration services for cross-strait enterprises and help the cross-strait parties to settle disputes. He hoped, with the attention and great support of the relative parties, the center can highlight its own characteristics, increase promotion efforts, enhance innovation and services, build a fair, upright and professional team of arbitrators, create a first-class arbitral institution and a homeland for cross-strait arbitration communities, thus making positive contributions to the promotion of healthy and stable development of cross-strait economic and trade relations.

Liang Jiangyong extended welcome and support for the establishment of the arbitration center in Pingtan. He said, setting up the center, as a new breakthrough and pioneering work in cross-strait cooperation in civil and commercial law, provides an exchange and dialogue platform for cross-strait law experts and professionals. This is expected to further promote cross-strait experts and scholars to carry out more in-depth and comprehensive cooperation, and reach a broader consensus. It is significant for further improving cross-strait relations. He stressed, it is also significant for Fujian Province to create internationalized, market-oriented and legalized business environment, and promote the development of China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) and Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone. It will inject new vitality into Fujian for leapfrog development.

Member of the NPC Standing Committee Wang Shengming spoke at the ceremony

Wang Shengming expressed congratulations for the establishment of the center.He said, the center serves as a platform for cross-strait cooperation and also a window for cross-strait innovation. The center is an arbitration institution set up for resolving cross-strait economic disputes. As the first such institution in the mainland, it is the result of the innovation of arbitration system and working mechanism. He hoped the center can advance with times to promote the sound development of cross-strait arbitration with the spirit of innovation.

Vice President of the Supreme People's Court He Rong spoke at the ceremony

He Rong said, with broad prospects, the center will become a best stage for gathering talented arbitration and conciliation personnel from the mainland and Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao. She briefed the mainland courts’ work in settling Taiwan-related cases and work. From 2009 to 2014, the People's Court settled 30,165 Taiwan-related cases in first instance, 315 cases of applying for recognition, civil judgment and arbitral decision, thus effectively protecting thelegitimate rights and interests of the parties across the Taiwan Strait.She added, the cross-strait arbitration judicial environment is loose and friendly. In June 2015, the Supreme People's Court issued and implemented two important judicial interpretation--Recognition and Enforcement of Civil Judgments of Taiwan Courts, Recognition and Enforcement of Arbitral Decisions of Taiwan.

Wan Exiang, Vice Chairman of NPC Standing Committee and Chairman of KMT Central Committee visited the offices of the center

After the ceremony, Wan Exiang, Jiang Zengwei, He Rong, Wang Shengming, Xiu Fujin, Deng Liping and Liang Jianyong walked to the building of the center and unveiled the gold plaque of the center, and shook hands with each other for celebration. The guests and enterprises at present were very excited and applauded warmly, with the environment cheerful.

With the English name Arbitration Center Across the Straits (ACAS in short), the center is an independent arbitration institution mainly engaged in settling disputes of cross-strait, civil and commercial (including marine) contracts as well as other property rights under the jurisdiction of the center as the parties agreed. The upcoming Arbitration Rules of the center, based on the relevant provisions and practices across the Straits, will facilitate resolving of cross-strait trade disputes. The Arbitrators List edited by the center, with over 200 celebrities of the arbitration circle across the Straits, enables the parties to choose arbitrators to try cases. Located in Pingtan which is closest to Taiwan, the center can provide nearby independent, impartial and efficient arbitration services with its strategic location.

Compared with litigation, arbitration has the advantages like autonomy of will of the parties, civil judge, judgment by specialists, civil and neutral feature, keeping commercial secrets, final ruling and easy enforcement, and therefore is a preferential choice for the cross-strait parties to resolve business disputes. The center, as the first arbitration institution in the mainland targeting settlement of cross-strait business disputes, is significant for optimizing legal environment for cross-strait business cooperation.

The organizing work of the center is undertaken by China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC). As an internationally renowned arbitration institution, the CIETAC has so far received accepted and heard a number of Taiwan-related arbitration cases, and hired 18 arbitrators from Taiwan. It has established close ties with the arbitration circle in Taiwan.