“Cross-Strait Four Regions” Arbitration Institutes Jointly Discuss New Initiatives for Development
——The Third Seminar of “Greater China Arbitration Forum” was held in Taipei

On August 28, 2009, the “Greater China Arbitration Forum” (GCAF, hereinafter referred to as the “Forum”) to be co-sponsored for the establishment by the arbitration Institutes of the mainland China and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions held its Third Seminar at the Grand Hotel of Taipei. The Forum seminar was sponsored by Taiwan Arbitration Association as well as with the chairman of the Forum and the president of Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators – Mr. Gao Haowen, the parliamentary vice minister of Taiwan Ministry of Law – Mr. Huang Shiming and vice chairman of Straits Exchange Foundation – Mr. Gao Konglian attended the meeting and made speeches. BAC, as a founding member of the Forum and the secretariat unit of the Forum, the delegation led by the secretary general Wang Hongsong were invited to Taiwan to attend the meeting.

The Forum was aimed at strengthening the cooperation and exchange of the arbitration Institutes within the regions, improving the arbitration levels and arbitration promotion within the Greater China. Dozens of arbitration Institutes involving nearly one hundred representatives from China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission, the arbitration institutions in mainland including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Shenzhen and Xi’an Arbitration Commissions and Hong Kong International Arbitration Center, Macao World Trade Center Arbitration Center attended the seminar, which was concerned by Taiwan of all circles and media.

forum site	secretary general statement

“The sponsor of the seminar preset the topics closely in connection with the global financial crisis and the special economic environment of further strengthening economic and trade relations, the industry peers from dozens of arbitration institutes are exhibited the strong desire of actively promoting cooperation and joining hands for collaborative development in the discussion. The council chairman of Taiwan Arbitration Association – Li Nianzu said in his speech that the cross-strait courts have recognized each other’s arbitration judgments, as well as granted the implementation effectiveness and with the relevant precedents, he also positively recommended on behalf of the sponsor of the Forum that: the cross-strait courts should mutually recommend suitable arbitrators; promote the talent training and exchange mechanism for arbitrators and mediators; promote the mechanism of jointly co-organizing specific businesses; and establish the dispute resolution demonstration terms for mutual use.

Taiwan participants also placed high expectations for arbitration. The vice chairman of Straits Exchange Foundation – Mr. Gao Konglian said, it is hoping to promote Taiwan arbitration institutes to be included in mainland arbitrators in the future and allowing the parties to freely choose the place of arbitration for economic and trade dispute cases. The parliamentary vice minister of Taiwan Ministry of Law – Mr. Huang Shiming said, the arbitration system is the fastest, the most economical and the best proposal for settling the cross-strait economy and trade and investment disputes, cross-strait will establish the arbitration institutes in the other side, as to whether employ mainland arbitrator for Taiwan arbitration institutes, it is still in the planning, which will consult the opinions of the Mainland Affairs Council of the Executive Yuan.

founding member conference of the forum	dinner party group photo (from left are Li Nianzu, Wang Zhixing, Yang Liangyi, Wang Hongsong, Wang Xiaoli, respectively)

The secretary general has made statements on the two topics of “2008 Annual Arbitration Work Report of the Member Institutes of the Greater China Arbitration Forum” and “Role of Arbitration Institutes in Arbitration Proceedings”. As for the previous topic, the secretary general was made introduction by focusing on the new initiatives of BAC that insists on the development of “alternative dispute resolution mechanism”, such as carrying forward the independent commercial affairs mediation mechanism, formulating the construction project dispute review rules, and publicizing and exploring the arbitration works through the offering of international and professional training for arbitrations and mediations, which has received the attention and praises from participants. As for the latter topic, the secretary general had a frank exchange with everyone on the subject of “About Understanding and Practice of Arbitrator Appointment” concerning the problems encountered and relevant measures taken by BAC for arbitrator appointment. The representatives of other arbitration institutes have made speeches on the topics of “Opportunity and Strategy of Arbitration Work in Financial Tsunami”, “Arbitrator Qualifications and Continuous Training” and “New Development of Cross-strait Four Regions Arbitration Legal Environment”.

secretary general Wang Hongsong was interviewed by the media	Mr. Li Nianzu gave the award and expressed his thanks to Mme.Wang

During the meeting, the secretary general was interviewed by the media from Taiwan and answered the questions about the increase of arbitration cases in relation to Taiwan, the standards for arbitrator election of BAC, the arbitrator appointment system and so on raised by the reporters. After the meeting, the secretary general Wang Hongsong attended the founding member conference of the Forum as the representative of the secretariat unit of the Forum.

Taiwan media coverage (newspaper clips)

Relevant Report of Taiwan Media:

Taipei “Commercial Times” Report on Exclusive Interview of Secretary General Wang Hongsong: Multiplication of arbitration cases in relation to Taiwanese businessman

Central News Agency Report: The Arbitration Association of the Republic of China (AAROC) – Cross-strait shall mutually recommend the arbitrators

Central News Agency Report: Gao Konglian looks forward to incorporating Taiwan arbitration agencies into mainland arbitrators.

Forum History Review:

BAC was invited to attend the first cooperation and development conference of the Great China arbitration agencies – to strengthen cooperation for mutual development

BAC was invited to attend the second seminar report of “Greater China Arbitration Forum” – opportunities and strategies

By Jiang Lili