The event "Deepening Institutional Innovation in Foreign-related Commercial and Maritime Arbitration to Support High-level Opening-up". [Photo by Lin Yuyang for ftz.xm.gov.cn]

The thematic event "Deepening Institutional Innovation in Foreign-related Commercial and Maritime Arbitration to Support High-level Opening-up" was held at Xiamen Sea World on Oct 10.

In recent years, Xiamen FTZ has pursued innovation in foreign-related commercial and maritime arbitration. It introduced China's first "Interim Arbitration Guide" and established the Maritime Silk Road International Legal and Commercial Integration Service Base, now serving over 100 countries and regions. It also facilitated the adjudication of the nation's first batch of cases, confirming the validity of foreign-related special arbitration clauses after the revision of the Arbitration Law, and handled China's first public-interest foreign-related maritime special arbitration case.

The launch ceremony of China's first public-interest arbitration system. [Photo by Lin Yuyang for ftz.xm.gov.cn]

The event launched China's first public-interest arbitration system, releasing the "First Maritime Silk Road Panel of Recommended Public-interest Special Arbitrators (Foreign-related Commercial and Maritime Affairs)" along with supporting guidelines for arbitrator services.

The "Maritime Silk Road Public-Interest Maritime Arbitrators' Hub and Shared Expert Pool" was also inaugurated, providing efficient and cost-effective channels for resolving cross-border maritime disputes.

The zone introduced the "Maritime Silk Road Special Arbitration Rules for Maritime Disputes", China's first specialized arbitration rules focusing on maritime disputes. These not only incorporate innovative practices such as "maritime mediation + arbitration" and expert involvement, but also actively explore advanced international mechanisms, such as early dismissal and emergency arbitrator procedures. 

The memorandum of cooperation signing ceremony. [Photo by Lin Yuyang for ftz.xm.gov.cn]

Multiple Xiamen-based ship management companies, seafarer dispatching agencies, and related industry associations jointly signed a memorandum of cooperation, committing to promoting a diversified dispute resolution model of "mediation-arbitration-litigation" within the sector.