STL Dean Philip McConnaughay served as a panelist with respect to “The Rule of Law in China’s Free Trade Areas” at the first “China Free Trade Zone Arbitration Forum” on April 10, in Qianhai, sponsored jointly by the South China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration) and the Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone.
Other speakers and guests included The First Circuit Court of The Supreme People’s Court Chief Justice Liu Guixiang, The Civil Fourth Court of Supreme People’s Court Chief Justice Luo Dongchuan, The Authority of Qianhai Chief Director Zhang Bei, the Chairs of the Arbitration Commissions of Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin and Zhuhai, STL Professor Thomas Man, and STL Assistant Dean Chen Keru.
The forum was held to advance China’s national strategy of “One Belt and One Road” and expanding China Pilot Free Trade Zones (“FTA”). The forum explored how international arbitration serves the FTA commercial legal environment. The meeting established the China FTA Arbitration Cooperation Alliance.
