The National Arbitration Annual Meeting was held in Jinan City on November 11^th -13^th, 2008, and over 280 principals and professionals in legal area from related national departments, units such as the Legal Affairs Office of the State Council and various arbitration institutions participated in the meeting. Gao Cunshan, Director of Legal Affairs Office of Government of Shandong Province, and Qi Jianzhong, Deputy Mayor of Jinan City, attended the Opening Ceremony and delivered addresses. Ms. Wang Hongsong, Secretary-general of the BAC attended the meeting together with staff of BAC.

　　 On November 14^th, 2008, the International Conference of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) of China Supreme People's Court was held in Beijing, Ms. Wang Hongsong, Secretary-general of BAC, delivered a special report. (See “Focuses” for more information.)

　　On November 25^th, 2008, the Conference of “How to Prevent and Resolve the Disputes Arising from Abnormal Price Fluctuations of Construction Materials”, hosted by BAC and co-organized by The Legal Daily and China Construction Industry Association, was held in International Meeting Hall of the BAC. (See “Practices” for more information.)

　　The Arbitrators’ Salon “Theoretical Research and Practical Issues of Liquidated Damages” sponsored by the BAC took place on November 27^th, 2008, Professor Han Shiyuan, a specially invited guest from Law School of Tsinghua University delivered an in-depth and detailed speech on the issue of Liquidated damages. In addition, this meeting was connected with Zibo Arbitration Commission through the video conference system. (See “Arbitrators’ Salon” for more information.)

(Gu Xuan, Zhang Jiechao)