The Great Britain-China Centre and Centre for Common Law at Renmin University of China, together with the University of Oxford Law Faculty, hosted an online workshop on commercial mediation in the UK and China, discussing key issues under consideration in China surrounding its possible ratification of the Singapore Mediation Convention and international best practice.
This workshop was co-organised by Renmin University of China’s Centre for Rule of Law for Ease of Doing Business and Renmin University of China’s Institute of International Commercial Dispute Prevention and Settlement, with funding support through the UK-China Business Environment Programme, a UK Government prosperity programming initiative.
Chinese, UK and international experts discussed the future of commercial mediation in the UK and China and consider the main challenges and opportunities from UK and Chinese perspectives in relation to the ratification of the Singapore Convention and international mediated settled agreements.
Professor CHENG Lei, Vice Dean of Renmin Law School and Secretary-General of the Centre for Common Law, Professor Mindy Chen-Wishart, Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Oxford, and Merethe Borge MacLeod, Executive Director of the Great Britain-China Centre opened discussions with a welcome from the respective hosting institutions.
Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, former inaugural President of the UK Supreme Court and Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, gave keynote remarks from a UK perspective, providing an enlightening introduction to alternative dispute resolution in the England.
From the China perspective, Professor FAN Yu of Renmin Law School and Expert Committee Member for the China International Commercial Court, gave a survey of the mediation environment in China, including issues being considered by the legal-judicial sector and policymakers.
During an initial session, Professor TANG Weijian of Renmin Law School and National Committee Member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, William Godwin QC of Arnold & Porter law firm and GBCC board member, Judge CHEN Yanzhong, Division Chief of Xiamen Maritime Court, Laurence Cobb, Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution Mediator, and Mr HUANG Yong, Vice Director of the China Securities Regulatory Commission China Securities Investor Services Centre, covered aspects of mediation in practice and future trends in their respective jurisdictions.
Danny McFadden, Managing Director of the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution Asia-Pacific, Dr LI Hu, Vice Chair of the China Maritime Arbitration Commission, Associate Professor Mimi ZOU at the University of Oxford and the University of Reading, and Associate Professor ZHANG Wenliang of Renmin Law School, covered the Singapore Convention and domestic implementation in the second substantive session.
The Director of the Bureau of People’s Participation and Promotion of Rule of Law at the PRC Ministry of Justice, Associate Professor PENG Xiaolong of Renmin Law School, Associate Professor GU Weixia of the University of Hong Kong Faculty of Law, and Assistant Professor WU Zhicheng, Assistant Director of Centre for Common Law, also participated in the workshop.