The 2021 North Bund Forum, co-organized by the Ministry of Transport and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, was opened in Shanghai on 4 November 2021. President Xi Jinping has sent a congratulatory letter to the forum. As one of the five thematic sessions, the Judiciary and Arbitration Thematic Forum - the 3rd China Maritime Justice and Arbitration Summit Forum was held on 5 November 2021. The theme of the forum is: Diversified Dispute Solution Reflects the Power; Judiciary and Arbitration the New Development. The thematic forum was co-organized by China Maritime Arbitration Commission (CMAC) and CMAC Shanghai Headquarters, supported by Shanghai Maritime Court of PRC, attracting more than 150 government officials, renowned experts and scholars, as well as representatives from enterprises and institutions from home and abroad. The forum serving as an international, high-end and professional platform for discussion of pressing issues faced by the global shipping industry, showcase of the accomplishments of the cooperation between arbitration institutions and courts, and promotion of innovation, exchanges and cooperation in legal services in the maritime sector.

Opening Ceremony

CMAC Vice Chairman Dr Li Hu presided over the opening ceremony. Mr Liu Xiaoyun, (President of Shanghai High People's Court) and Dr Lu Pengqi (Vice Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade) delivered welcome speeches.

Mr Liu Xiaoyun addressed that the North Bund area within Hongkou District plays a key role in a bid to build Shanghai into a world-class International Shipping Hub , by providing first-class shipping services and creating a market-oriented, legalized, and internationalized business environment. Judicial and arbitration system is responsible for the prosperous development of the local shipping industry. Shanghai-based courts and arbitration institutions make continuous effort to promote a diversified dispute resolution mechanism collaborating litigation and non-litigation, contributing to the continued improvement in Shanghai’s business environment. Local courts at all levels will work together with the public to build a platform for cooperative interaction, with the goal of upgrading Shanghai into an international shipping hub with global shipping resource allocation capabilities.

Dr Lu Pengqi emphasized that the event is a significant forum for China Maritime Jurisdiction and Maritime Arbitration, to build a platform for enhancing the ability of legal risk prevention and dispute resolution in the shipping industry, promoting the law-based maritime governance, boosting the global shipping economy, and deepening cooperation for the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative. Recent years have seen an increasing emphasis on the development of maritime arbitration sector which constitutes an indispensable part of an international business-friendly environment under the rule of law. The Supreme People’s Court, local courts at all levels, and maritime courts make continuous effort to facilitate an arbitration-friendly judicial review system, and to enhance cooperation with arbitration institutions on building up the ADR mechanism. To increase the long run growth, it is not only important to explore in-depth cooperation that showcases the advantages of the maritime legal services, but also to actively adapt to the new trends in global shipping with persistent innovation. Both CCPIT and CMAC will work closely with the local government and relevant departments to make positive contributions on accelerating development of maritime shipping and global trade.

Issuance of White Paper

Dr Wang Tong (President of Shanghai Maritime Court) introduced related information about the White Paper on Mediation Commissioned by China Maritime Arbitration Commission and Shanghai Maritime Court 2011-2021 (White Paper). The White Paper systematically summarizes the court-entrusted mediation in serving the development of ship industry over the past 10 years, and selects ten typical cases in both Chinese and English, reviewing the collaboration between Shanghai Maritime Court and CMAC Shanghai Headquarters by focusing on the overal develpment, work effectiveness and experience.

Mr Liu Xiaoyun (President of Shanghai High People's Court), Dr Lu Pengqi (Vice Chairman of the CCPIT), Dr Wang Tong (President of Shanghai Maritime Court), Mr Ye Hongjun (General Legal Counsel of China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited), Dr Yu Shicheng (Former President of Shanghai Maritime University), Mr Wu Xianjiang, (Vice President of Ningbo Maritime Court), Dr Li Hu (Vice Chairman of CMAC) and Mrs Xu Fei (Deputy Secretary-General of CMAC Shanghai Headquarters) jointly released the White Paper.

Panel Discussion I: Development and Connection of Maritime Justice and Arbitration

The first panel was moderated by Dr Li Hu (Vice Chairman of CMAC), with the participation of Mr Philip Yang (Internationally renowned shipping and trade law expert), Dr Wu Xianjiang (Vice President of Ningbo Maritime Court), Prof Dr Wang Guohua (Vice Chairman of China Society of Private International Law), and Mr Jin Yulai (Founder and Senior Partner of Kai-Rong Law Firm). The panelists shared their views on comparison between international arbitration and domestic arbitration, how to promote the coordinated development of maritime litigation and arbitration in China, significance and direction of maritime arbitration development, and prospect of future cases accepted by CMAC.

Panel Discussion II: Theory and Practice of Multiple Dispute Resolution

Moderated by Dr Yu Shicheng (Former President of Shanghai Maritime University), with the participation of Mr Xin Hai (Chief Judge of Admiralty Tribunal of Shanghai Maritime Court), Mr Robert Rhodes QC (Member of the Law Society of England and Wales, Judge of Inner Temple Law School,UK), Mr Frank Chen (Partner of Anjie Law Firm), Mr Chen Xiangyong (Managing Partner of Wang Jing & Co), the panel focused on the innovation and trends of the ADR mechanisms to resolve maritime disputes from both theoretical and practical perspectives. The topics included judicial practice of litigation mediation connection in maritime disputes, interpretation of Singapore Convention, the theory and practice of multiple dispute resolution, pre-pleading mediation in maritime cases accepted by CMAC.

Panel Discussion III: New Normal of Shipping Economy and New Development of Enterprise Compliance Risk Control in the Post Epidemic Era

The third panel was moderated by Mr Ye Hongjun (General Legal Counsel of China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited). The speakers were Mr Liu Yutong (Deputy Managing Director of China Shipowners Mutual Assurance Association), Mr Wayne Zhuang BIMCO Regional Manager, Asia), and Mr Mervyn Chen (Managing Partner of Wintell & Co). The panelists discussed new development of shipping enterprise compliance, new trends of international shipping standard contracts and terms under the epidemic situation, as well as data compliance and information protection of shipping enterprises.

Closing Remarks

Mrs Xu Fei (Deputy Secretary-General of CMAC Shanghai Headquarters) delivered the closing remarks. She said that CMAC and CMAC Shanghai headquarters will always play a positive role in the construction of Shanghai international shipping center and the promotion of a wider maritime community for the maritime legal service sector, contributing to sustained positive growth of China’s maritime economy as well as the international trade and world economy.