Beijing court praised for arbitration efforts

Arbitration experts have praised a Beijing court for its efforts to regulate arbitration procedures and pledged to work with judges to make the capital a preferred venue for resolving international commercial disputes.

On Wednesday morning, the Beijing International Commercial Tribunal publicly heard a case involving the validity of a foreign-related arbitration agreement at the newly launched physical operation platform of the Beijing International Arbitration Center.

Following the hearing, Jiang Lili, an official with the Beijing Arbitration Commission, said the tribunal has contributed to advancing the construction of the Beijing International Commercial Arbitration Center. She praised its judicial role in regulating arbitration procedures and providing clear guidance for arbitration reviews.

Zhang Guoqiang, deputy head of the Beijing Justice Bureau, highlighted the court's importance in developing the center. "The hearing has shown business entities that they have multiple ways to resolve their disputes on this platform," he said.

The platform, located in an office building in Chaoyang District and opened earlier this month, offers a range of legal services for business entities, including appraisal, notarization and legal research. It also allows parties to choose how to resolve commercial disputes — through mediation, arbitration or litigation.

It was the first time the tribunal convened a panel to hear a case at the platform. While handling arbitration-related judicial reviews, the tribunal said it will also provide legal education for business entities and strengthen communication with arbitration and mediation institutions, as well as foreign law research organizations, to help foster an arbitration-friendly environment.

Established in 2021 as a division of the Beijing Fourth Intermediate People's Court, the tribunal aims to make the city a top choice for handling international commercial disputes.

Li Yingxin, vice-president of the court, said it will continue improving efficiency and optimizing procedures in international commercial cases, with the goal of advancing the capital's arbitration landscape through the rule of law.