On July 24, the Seminar Marking the 70th Anniversary of the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) was held in Beijing. Wan Exiang, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 12th and 13th National People’s Congress (NPC), sent a congratulatory letter. Ren Hongbin, Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and Chairman of the CIETAC, Tao Kaiyuan, Vice-President of the Supreme People’s Court, and Li Mingzheng, Vice-Minister of Justice, attended the meeting and delivered speeches. Nie Wenhui, Vice Chairman of the CCPIT and the CIETAC, presided over the event. Wang Chengjie, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the CIETAC, read out congratulatory letters from home and abroad and announced the list of CIETAC Honorary Arbitrators.

Ren Hongbin stated that in 1956, Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaoping, and other leaders of the older generation, with great foresight, personally guided the establishment of the Foreign Trade Arbitration Commission under the CCPIT. Over the past 70 years, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, the CIETAC has always kept pace with the times, advanced alongside the rule of law, and aligned with opening-up. It has made remarkable achievements in leading the development of arbitration in China, supporting the development of foreign-related rule of law, serving and safeguarding high-standard opening up, and deeply engaging in global legal governance. To advance the high-quality development of arbitration in China under the new circumstances, we must faithfully apply Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, fully implement the newly revised Arbitration Law, accelerate the building of world-class arbitration institutions, and enhance China’s voice in international arbitration. Embarking on a new journey, the CIETAC must firmly establish and practice a correct view on political achievements. Seizing the momentum and pursuing excellence, it must press ahead with unwavering consistency, blaze new trails in the development of arbitration institutions, open new frontiers in enhancing arbitration quality and efficiency, present a new vision in international cooperation, and achieve new milestones in talent cultivation. By better leveraging the rule of law in thinking, approach, and strength to safeguard national security and development interests, the CIETAC will make greater contributions to promoting high-quality development, fostering a new development paradigm, and advancing the building of an open world economy.

Themed “Seven Decades of Pioneering, Credibility Reaching Across the World”, the seminar brought together former leaders and senior arbitrator representatives of the CIETAC, relevant leaders and officials from the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme People’s Court, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Commerce, the All China Lawyers Association, and the Beijing court system, as well as leading officials from relevant departments and units of the CCPIT and staff from the CIETAC. They recounted CIETAC’s magnificent 70-year journey and discussed the development of arbitration in China in the new era. Prior to the seminar, the participants visited the themed exhibition marking the 70th anniversary of the CIETAC.

Over the past 70 years since its establishment, the CIETAC has accepted nearly 80,000 arbitration cases involving parties from more than 170 countries and regions. It has been ranked among the world’s top five most preferred arbitration institutions, with its current Arbitration Rules listed among the world’s top five most favoured arbitration rules. And it has been repeatedly named one of the Top Ten Arbitration Institutions in China.