China: An International & Cross-Border Disputes (PRC Firms) Overview
Cross-Border Litigation
In 2025, China continued to strengthen its foreign-related commercial dispute resolution framework, with significant developments in the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments, institutional development of international commercial courts, and diversified dispute resolution mechanisms. This has further enhanced China’s attractiveness as a forum and the credibility of its courts for resolving cross-border disputes.
Supreme People’s Court issues first batch of typical cases on mediation of foreign-related commercial and maritime disputes
On 10 July 2025, the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) released the first batch of typical cases concerning mediation of foreign-related commercial and maritime disputes. The six cases involved parties from multiple jurisdictions, including Singapore, the United States, South Korea and Italy, and covered typical cross-border disputes such as the international sale of goods, equity transfers, and overseas construction projects. The SPC stated that the release aimed to showcase the effectiveness of mediation in resolving foreign-related disputes and to emphasise the principle of equal protection of Chinese and foreign parties.
This development reflects China’s continued efforts to diversify foreign-related dispute resolution mechanisms and strengthen the institutional role of mediation in cross-border dispute resolution. By formally publishing such cases, Chinese courts have also signalled to the international business community the professionalism, openness and predictability of China’s judicial system in handling cross-border disputes.
Chinese court recognises and enforces Singapore court judgment
On 25 September 2025, the SPC released the fifth batch of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) typical cases, including a case in which the Suzhou Intermediate People’s Court recognised and enforced a civil judgment issued by a Singapore court based on the principle of reciprocity.
The institutional significance of this case lies in the court’s formal application, for the first time, of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China and the Supreme Court of the Republic of Singapore on Information on Foreign Law, which facilitates judicial co-operation in determining foreign law and supporting judgment recognition and enforcement.
The SPC noted that this case demonstrates China’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its judicial co-operation with major international commercial jurisdictions and enhances the credibility and maturity of China’s legal framework for recognising and enforcing foreign judgments. This case also provides valuable guidance for future recognition and enforcement of judgments from Singapore and other common law jurisdictions.
SPC releases the Opinion on Promoting High-Quality Development of International Commercial Courts
On 25 September 2025, alongside the release of the fifth batch of BRI typical cases, the SPC issued the Opinion on Promoting the High-Quality Development of International Commercial Courts to Support High-Level Opening-Up (the “Opinion”).
The Opinion introduces several measures aimed at enhancing certainty and efficiency in resolving cross-border disputes. It provides for the development of model jurisdiction clauses for foreign-related contracts and clarifies procedural rules allowing international commercial courts to assume jurisdiction over significant and complex cases, while improving mechanisms for addressing parallel proceedings and jurisdictional conflicts.
The Opinion also introduces measures to facilitate cross-border litigation, including simplifying evidentiary formalities under the Apostille Convention, permitting authorised video-based witness testimony and evidence submission, and strengthening mechanisms for ascertaining foreign law through the use of legal databases and expert participation.
The Opinion reflects China’s continued efforts to reduce procedural barriers and enhance the effectiveness and attractiveness of Chinese courts as a forum for resolving international commercial disputes.
Domestic and International Arbitration
The year 2025 marked a milestone in the development of Chinese arbitration, with legislative reform and judicial developments reinforcing China’s position as an increasingly attractive seat of arbitration and strengthening judicial support for arbitration-related proceedings.
Adoption of the revised Arbitration Law
On 12 September 2025, the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress adopted the revised Arbitration Law, effective 1 March 2026 – the first comprehensive overhaul since its adoption in 1994. The revision represents a significant step toward aligning China’s arbitration framework with international best practices.
The revised Arbitration Law further strengthens arbitral procedure and judicial support mechanisms. It formally codifies the Kompetenz-Kompetenz principle, granting arbitral tribunals authority to determine their own jurisdiction and the validity of arbitration agreements, thereby reinforcing arbitral autonomy and reducing judicial intervention. The law also enhances judicial support by allowing tribunals to seek assistance in evidence collection and permitting parties to apply to court for conduct preservation measures, improving procedural effectiveness and enforceability of arbitral awards.
The revised law also enhances legal clarity by formally introducing the concept of the seat of arbitration in foreign-related cases, specifying that the seat determines the legal status of awards and the supervisory jurisdiction of courts. It further permits ad hoc arbitration in specified foreign-related disputes and confirms that Chinese arbitral institutions may administer international investment arbitration cases, reflecting China’s continued alignment with international arbitration practice. In addition, the law recognises the legal validity of online arbitration proceedings, supporting the use of digital dispute resolution mechanisms.
Strengthening of judicial support for arbitration
In 2025, Chinese courts further strengthened judicial support for arbitration through judicial interpretations and landmark cases. Fa Shi [2025] No. 3 has clarified that Hong Kong and Macao-invested enterprises registered in mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area may designate Hong Kong or Macao as the governing law or seat of arbitration, significantly enhancing flexibility in cross-border arbitration arrangements.
Judicial practice also saw significant breakthroughs. In May 2025, the Shanghai International Commercial Court issued its first judicial investigation order in support of evidence preservation in a foreign-related arbitration at Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (SHIAC). In November, the Shenzhen Intermediate Court recognised and enforced an award rendered by the South China (Hong Kong) International Arbitration Centre in China’s first “Hong Kong capital, Hong Kong arbitration” recognition case pursuant to Fa Shi [2025] No. 3. In December, China’s first ad hoc arbitration conducted under a “designated institution” arrangement was concluded in Shanghai’s Lingang Special Area, marking the practical implementation of ad hoc arbitration.
These developments demonstrate China’s continued efforts to strengthen an arbitration-friendly judicial environment and enhance the enforceability and credibility of arbitral awards.
Growth in international arbitration cases
In 2025, arbitration institutions in China reported continued growth in foreign-related and international arbitration cases, reflecting the increasing internationalisation of China’s arbitration market.
For example, according to its 2025 Work Report, the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) handled 806 foreign-related cases in 2025, representing a 6.33% year-on-year increase, with total disputes reaching CNY88.075 billion and involving parties from 97 jurisdictions.
Notably, international arbitration cases in China demonstrate two key trends. First, parties originate from increasingly diverse jurisdictions, including Russia, Singapore, and offshore jurisdictions, often involving complex sanctions and cross-border governance issues. Second, disputes have shifted toward specialised “new economy” sectors such as construction, financial investment, and biomedicine, reflecting the structural upgrading of China’s arbitration market.
Taken together, the developments in 2025 reflect China’s continued efforts to strengthen its cross-border dispute resolution framework, enhancing legal certainty, procedural efficiency, and international compatibility across both litigation and arbitration. With growing recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments, continued development of international commercial courts, and significant arbitration reforms, China is increasingly emerging as a key jurisdiction for resolving complex cross-border commercial disputes.
一、跨境诉讼
2025年，中国涉外商事争议解决体系持续深化，在域外判决承认与执行机制、国际商事法庭制度建设以及跨境纠纷多元化解决机制等方面取得重要进展，进一步增强中国作为跨境争议解决地的吸引力，并提升中国法院的国际公信力。
（一）最高人民法院发布首批涉外商事海事调解典型案例
2025年7月10日，最高人民法院发布首批涉外商事海事调解典型案例，共6件，涉及新加坡、美国、韩国、意大利等多个司法辖区的当事人，案件类型涵盖跨境货物买卖、股权转让及国际工程项目等典型跨境商事争议。最高人民法院表示，该批案例旨在展示中国法院通过调解机制解决涉外争议的实践成果，并强调依法平等保护中外当事人的合法权益。
这一发布反映出中国法院正进一步推动涉外商事争议解决机制的多元化发展，并强化调解在跨境争议解决体系中的制度地位。通过发布官方典型案例展示调解实践，也向国际市场传递出中国司法体系在处理涉外争议方面的专业性、开放性及可预期性。
（二）中国法院承认与执行新加坡法院民事判决典型案例
2025年9月25日，最高人民法院发布第五批“一带一路”建设典型案例，其中包括一宗由苏州市中级人民法院（苏州国际商事法庭）承认并执行新加坡法院民事判决的案件。中国法院依据互惠原则，对新加坡法院判决予以承认和执行。
该案的重要制度意义在于，中国法院首次正式运用了中新两国最高法院之间签署的《关于外国法查明合作的谅解备忘录》机制，通过司法合作方式确认外国法内容及判决效力，为判决承认与执行提供支持。
最高人民法院指出，该案体现了中国法院通过司法合作机制加强与国际商业中心司法互认合作的努力，并进一步提升中国在跨境判决承认与执行领域的制度成熟度和国际可信度。该案例为未来中国法院承认与执行新加坡及其他普通法司法辖区判决提供了重要实践参考。
（三）最高人民法院发布推动国际商事法庭高质量发展的司法政策文件
2025年9月25日，在发布第五批“一带一路”典型案例同时，最高人民法院发布《关于推进国际商事法庭高质量发展服务保障高水平对外开放的意见》。
该《意见》提出了多项旨在提升跨境争议解决确定性和效率的具体措施。首先，《意见》明确将制定涉外协议管辖示范条款，并完善国际商事法庭提级管辖重大复杂案件的程序规则，同时推动完善涉外案件管辖及平行诉讼处理机制，从而增强跨境交易的可预期性。
其次，《意见》提出简化跨境诉讼程序，包括适用《取消外国公文书认证要求的公约》以减少域外证据认证手续、允许通过视频见证方式办理授权和证据手续，以及通过运用法律数据库和引入专家参与机制，加强域外法查明机制。
该《意见》反映出中国正持续完善国际商事审判制度，以降低跨境诉讼障碍并提升中国法院处理跨境争议的能力和吸引力。
国内及国际仲裁
2025年是中国仲裁制度发展史上具有里程碑意义的一年，立法改革与司法实践同步推进，进一步增强中国作为仲裁地及仲裁司法支持地的国际竞争力。
（一）新《仲裁法》正式通过
2025年9月12日，十四届全国人大常委会通过新修订的《中华人民共和国仲裁法》，新法将于2026年3月1日施行，是该法自1994年通过以来首次全面修订，被广泛认为是中国仲裁制度向国际最佳实践接轨的重要一步。
新法进一步完善了仲裁程序及司法支持机制。首先，新法正式确立仲裁庭自裁管辖权（Kompetenz-Kompetenz）原则，明确仲裁庭有权就仲裁协议效力及管辖权作出裁定，从而强化仲裁程序的独立性并减少司法干预。同时，新法允许仲裁庭请求有关机构协助调查取证，并明确当事人可向法院申请行为保全，从制度层面加强仲裁与司法之间的衔接，提升仲裁程序的有效性及裁决的可执行性。
此外，新法首次在涉外仲裁部分正式引入“仲裁地”概念，明确仲裁地将决定裁决法律属性及司法监督法院，从而提升仲裁法律框架的确定性。同时，新法允许在特定涉外场景下进行临时仲裁，并明确中国仲裁机构可受理国际投资仲裁案件，标志着中国仲裁制度进一步向国际通行模式靠拢。新法亦确认在线仲裁与线下仲裁具有同等法律效力，反映出中国仲裁程序对数字化争议解决模式的制度支持。
司法支持仲裁机制持续强化
2025年，最高人民法院通过司法解释及典型案例进一步强化对仲裁的司法支持。法释〔2025〕3号明确，在大湾区内地九市注册的港澳资企业可有效约定适用香港或澳门法律或以港澳为仲裁地，显著增强跨境仲裁的制度灵活性。
此外，司法实践亦取得多项突破。2025年5月，上海国际商事法庭首次为SHIAC涉外仲裁案件签发司法调查令，支持证据保全。11月，深圳中院审结全国首例“港资港仲裁”认可案，依据法释〔2025〕3号认可华南（香港）国际仲裁院裁决，实现仲裁协议效力认定与裁决执行的完整衔接。12月，全国首例“约定指定机构”临时仲裁案在上海临港审结，标志着临时仲裁机制正式进入实践阶段。
这些发展表明，中国法院正持续构建仲裁友好型司法环境，提升仲裁裁决的可执行性及制度可信度。
（三）国际仲裁案件持续增长
2025年，中国主要仲裁机构受理的涉外及国际仲裁案件数量和争议金额持续增长，反映出中国仲裁市场国际化程度不断提升。
以中国国际经济贸易仲裁委员会（CIETAC）为例，根据CIETAC 2025年工作报告，其在2025年共受理涉外案件806件，同比增长6.33%；争议金额达人民币880.75亿元，同比增长8.57%；案件涉及97个国家和地区，当事人来源进一步多元化。
当前中国国际仲裁案件呈现两大特征：一是当事人来源更加多元，俄罗斯、新加坡及离岸法域案件显著增加，多涉及制裁合规及跨境治理等复杂问题；二是争议领域持续拓宽，建设工程、金融投资及生物医药等“新经济”纠纷显著增长，反映出中国仲裁市场的结构性升级。
总体而言，2025年的制度发展反映出中国正持续完善其跨境争议解决体系，在诉讼及仲裁两个层面同步提升制度确定性、程序效率及国际兼容性。随着域外判决承认与执行机制不断成熟、国际商事法庭体系持续完善以及仲裁制度改革逐步落地，中国正日益成为解决复杂跨境商业争议的重要司法及仲裁管辖地。