Arbitration in China Embraces New and Key Changes
Arbitration in China Embraces New and Key Changes
中国仲裁迎来新的重要变革
As the global economic structure continues to evolve, arbitration is an increasingly vital tool for resolving cross-border commercial disputes. China, as a significant participant and driver of the global economy, plays a crucial role in the enhancement and development of its arbitration system. This development not only impacts the stability of the domestic market but also has far-reaching effects on the international commercial dispute resolution framework. In 2025, China’s arbitration field will undergo a series of significant reforms, including the implementation of new arbitration rules by several arbitration institutions and the impending enactment of the new Arbitration Law.
在全球经济格局不断重塑的今天，仲裁作为解决跨国商事争议的重要手段，其地位愈发凸显。中国作为全球经济的重要参与者和推动者，其仲裁制度的完善与发展不仅关乎国内市场的稳定，更对国际商事争议解决体系的构建产生深远影响。2025年，中国仲裁领域将迎来系列重要变革，包括多家仲裁机构新版仲裁规则的施行，以及新《仲裁法》的临近实施等。
Development in the Internationalisation and Modernisation of the New Arbitration Rules of Arbitration Institutions
仲裁机构新版仲裁规则在国际化、现代化方面的进步
The new arbitration rules of the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) and the Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (SHIAC) take effect from 1 January 2024. These new rules not only continue the tradition of fairness, professionalism and efficiency but also make a lot of progress in terms of internationalisation and modernisation.
中国国际经济贸易仲裁委员会(“贸仲”)与上海国际经济贸易仲裁委员会(“上国仲”)的新版仲裁规则均自2024年1月1日起施行。贸仲与上国仲的新版仲裁规则不仅继承了以往公正、专业、高效的优良传统，更在国际化、现代化方面有诸多进步。
For instance, CIETAC’s new arbitration rules lower the threshold for consolidated arbitration, introduce rules on third-party funding and expand the application of the “Guidelines on Evidence”, which improve the efficiency of dispute resolution, reduce costs and enhance transparency and fairness in arbitration. Similarly, SHIAC’s new rules improve the joinder of third parties and provide interim measures and emergency arbitrator relief, enhancing the flexibility and efficiency of arbitration procedures.
例如，贸仲的新版仲裁规则降低了合并仲裁的门槛，引入了第三方资助规则，并增加了《证据指引》的适用，有助于提高争议解决的效率、降低成本，并提升仲裁的透明度及公正性；上国仲的新版仲裁规则同样通过完善案外人加入制度、提供临时措施与紧急仲裁员救济等，提升了仲裁程序的灵活性和效率。
Through the continuous optimisation of arbitration rules and service processes, China’s arbitration institutions are steadily enhancing their international competitiveness and influence. These new rules reflect the integration and adoption of international commercial arbitration practices, providing higher-quality legal services to Chinese companies “going global” and foreign companies “coming into” China.
中国的仲裁机构通过持续优化仲裁规则和服务流程，不断提升其国际竞争力和影响力。前述新版仲裁规则也体现了对国际商事仲裁实践的借鉴与融合，为中国企业“走出去”和外国企业“引进来”提供了更加优质的法律服务保障。
The Upcoming Implementation of the New Arbitration Law and its Integration of International Commercial Arbitration Practices
临近实施的新《仲裁法》对国际商事仲裁实践的借鉴与融合
The State Council’s General Office, in its “2024 Legislative Work Plan” issued on 6 May 2024, explicitly included the draft revision of the Arbitration Law in the list of bills to be submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress for deliberation. The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, in its “2024 Legislative Work Plan” released on 8 May 2024, also included the “Amendment to the Arbitration Law” as a bill for first reading. Consequently, the Draft Amendment of the Arbitration Law of the People’s Republic of China (Draft for Comments) (“Draft for Comments”) is nearing implementation. Based on past arbitration practice, the Draft for Comments draws extensively from international advanced arbitration legislation, in particular with its alignment with the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration achieving breakthroughs in several areas.
国务院办公厅在2024年5月6日印发的《国务院2024年度立法工作计划》中明确将“仲裁法修订草案”列入“拟提请全国人大常委会审议的法律案”；全国人大常委会也在2024年5月8日公布的《全国人大常委会2024年度立法工作计划》中将“仲裁法(修改)”纳入“初次审议的法律案”。据此，《中华人民共和国仲裁法(修订)(征求意见稿)》(“《征求意见稿》”)临近实施，《征求意见稿》在总结过去仲裁实践经验的基础上，充分借鉴了国际先进仲裁立法经验，特别是与《国际商事仲裁示范法》接轨，在多个方面实现了突破。
For example, considering China’s accession to the New York Convention and the enforceability of foreign interim arbitral awards in China, the draft proposes equal treatment for both domestic and foreign arbitration by introducing the "interim arbitration" system. However, the Draft for Comments, based on China’s national conditions, imposes restrictions on interim arbitration, including limiting its application to “foreign-related commercial disputes” and regulating core procedures such as the formation of the tribunal and recusals. The draft also strengthens the supervision of interim arbitration by requiring dissenting arbitrators to provide written opinions to the parties and mandating that the award and its delivery records be filed with the court. Allowing interim arbitration under specific conditions provides parties with more dispute resolution options, reflecting respect for party autonomy while aligning with international trends in commercial arbitration.
例如，考虑到中国加入了《纽约公约》，外国的临时仲裁裁决可以在中国得到承认和执行的实际情况，应平等对待境内外仲裁，《征求意见稿》增加了“临时仲裁”制度的规定。但《征求意见稿》也基于中国国情对临时仲裁作出了特殊的限制性规定，包括将临时仲裁适用范围限定在“涉外商事纠纷”，以及对临时仲裁的组庭、回避等核心程序进行了必要的规范等。在特定条件下允许临时仲裁的存在，为当事人提供了更多的争议解决选择。这一规定既体现了对当事人意思自治的尊重，也符合国际商事仲裁的发展趋势。
Moreover, against the backdrop of the State Council’s approval for foreign arbitration institutions to establish operational offices in Beijing, Shanghai and other locations to provide arbitration services for disputes in international commerce and investment, the Draft for Comments introduces provisions for the registration and management of foreign arbitration institutions’ offices in China. Foreign arbitration institutions handling cases in China will treat China as the seat of arbitration and apply Chinese law. This measure not only promotes the opening up and competition of China’s arbitration market but also enhances China’s international influence in arbitration, offering more convenience and choices for foreign investors to resolve disputes in China.
又如，在国务院文件已经允许境外仲裁机构在北京、上海等地设立业务机构，并就国际商事、投资等领域发生的民商事争议提供仲裁服务的背景下，《征求意见稿》增加了境外仲裁机构在我国设立业务机构的登记管理规定。境外仲裁机构在中国境内审理案件，将中国视为仲裁地、适用中国法。这一举措不仅将促进中国仲裁市场的开放与竞争，也将提升中国仲裁的国际影响力，并为外国投资者在中国解决争议提供了更多便利和选择。
Trends in Arbitration Cases in China
中国境内仲裁案件的发展趋势
In light of the potential continued economic downturn and reduced investment activity in 2025, the volume and nature of arbitration cases in China are expected to change significantly.
面对2025年可能持续的经济下行压力和投资领域活动的减少，中国境内仲裁案件的数量和类型预计将发生显著变化。
On the one hand, the poor economic outlook and reduced investment activity, particularly the increase in issues related to equity and other forms of investment exits, will directly lead to a significant increase in conflicts in the investment field. These disputes often involve complex contractual terms, equity structures, and valuation disputes, placing higher demands on the expertise and efficiency of arbitration institutions.
一方面，由于经济形势不佳，虽然投资领域活动减少，但股权和其他形式的投资退出问题增多，将直接导致投资领域内的矛盾纠纷大幅增加。这些纠纷往往涉及复杂的合同条款、股权结构、估值争议等问题，对仲裁机构的专业性和效率提出了更高要求。
On the other hand, the downturn in the investment market will also affect arbitration cases. In the real estate sector, while the number of disputes related to new real estate investments may decline due to reduced investment, lease termination disputes are expected to rise significantly. Tenants facing operational difficulties or market changes may terminate their leases early, leading to frequent disputes with landlords. Although these disputes are relatively simple, their large volume and need for swift resolution will challenge arbitration institutions’ case management capabilities.
另一方面，投资市场的低迷也将对仲裁案件产生影响。以房地产投资为例，虽然房地产投资方面的纠纷数量可能因新投资减少而有所下降，但退租纠纷却可能显著增加。一些租户因经营困难或市场变化而提前解约，导致与房东之间的争议频发。这类纠纷虽然相对简单，但数量庞大且需要快速有效进行处理，对仲裁机构的案件管理能力提出了挑战。
In conclusion, the implementation of new arbitration rules by several arbitration institutions and the impending enactment of the new Arbitration Law will undoubtedly inject strong momentum into the internationalisation and modernisation of China’s arbitration system. Faced with a complex and ever-changing economic landscape and shifts in case types, these reforms reflect China’s active adoption and integration of international arbitration practices and highlight its growing role and responsibility in global economic governance.
综上所述，多家仲裁机构新仲裁规则的施行，以及新《仲裁法》的临近实施，无疑为中国仲裁制度的国际化、现代化进程注入了强劲动力。面对复杂多变的经济形势和案件类型变化，这些变革不仅反映了中国对国际仲裁实践经验的积极借鉴与融合，也彰显了中国在全球经济治理中日益增强的角色与担当。