On 5 September 2025, the Greater Bay Area (GBA) Arbitration Forum on “New Opportunities” and the 2025 Annual Meeting of the GBA Arbitration Alliance were successfully held at the Lotus Room of the World Trade Center Macau. The event was hosted by the World Trade Center Macau Arbitration Center (WTC Macau Arbitration Center) and co-organised by the Secretariat of the GBA Arbitration Alliance (Nansha International Arbitration Center).

The forum brought together prominent guests, including Mr. Chow Seak Keong, Acting Director of the Legal Affairs Bureau representing the Secretary for Administration and Justice of the Macao SAR Government; Mr. Huang Wenjun, Deputy Director-General of the Legal Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR; Mr. Sun Taiping, President of the Guangzhou Law Society; Dr. Vong Hin Fai and Dr. Geng Yuan from the Belt and Road Legal Service Alliance; Dr. Ao Weng Tong, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Macao Consumer Arbitration Center; Mr. Peng En, Director of the Department of Public Legal Services of the Guangdong Department of Justice; Mr. Chui Sai Cheong, President of the Macao Chamber of Commerce; Mr. Xiao ShengFang, President of the Guangdong Lawyers Association; Mr. Chan Chi Ieong, Head of the Legal Promotion and Public Relations Division of the Macao Legal Affairs Bureau; and Mr. Sio U Lam, Director of the General Affairs Division of the Legal Affairs Bureau of the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. Legal experts and business representatives from across the GBA, Shanghai, Chongqing, Wuhan, and other cities also attended.

The forum focused on institutional innovation in arbitration, harmonisation of rules, and the application of technology. Discussions covered cross-border dispute resolution, digital platform development, talent cultivation, and international cooperation.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Jackson Tsui, President of the Council of the WTC Macau Arbitration Center, noted that the newly released “Opinions on Giving Full Play to the Role of Arbitration in Supporting the High-Quality Development of the GBA” has provided strong momentum for regional arbitration through mechanisms such as “Hong Kong-funded, Hong Kong arbitration” and “Macao-funded, Macao arbitration.” The forum, under the theme “Institutional Leadership, Technological Synergy,” aims to promote systemic innovation and deepen trilateral cooperation.

Mr. Chen Xudong, Director-General of the Guangdong Department of Justice, delivered a video speech highlighting how the GBA Arbitration Alliance has, in recent years, embodied the “One Country, Two Systems, Three Legal Jurisdictions” model. It has achieved mutual learning in rules, shared resources, and technical collaboration, enabling seamless cross-jurisdictional dispute resolution and providing strong support for regional economic development.

Dr. Vong Hin Fai, Council Member of the Belt and Road Legal Service Alliance, remarked that the Alliance will draw from the innovative practices of GBA arbitration and deepen cooperation with the GBA Arbitration Alliance, focusing on rule innovation, talent development, and mutual recognition of international standards to expand global arbitration partnerships.

Mr. Sun Taiping, President of the Guangzhou Law Society, stated that GBA arbitration must be rooted in the principles of “innovation, coordination, green development, openness, and sharing.” He emphasised the need to cultivate world-class arbitration institutions with Chinese characteristics, facilitate efficient resource allocation, and promote the development of cross-border legal services.

In his video address, Mr. Cheong Weng Chon, Secretary for Administration and Justice of the Macao SAR, highlighted that the GBA’s joint review of the guidelines for the regional arbitrators’ roster has been completed, with the roster set to be released soon. He also announced that Macao, in collaboration with the Executive Committee of the Hengqin In-depth Cooperation Zone, is planning to establish an arbitration institution under the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Economic and Trade Cooperation Service Platform, leveraging Macao’s advantages to serve as a legal bridge between China and Lusophone countries.

Mr. Cheung Kwok Kwan, Deputy Secretary for Justice of the Hong Kong SAR, delivered a video message noting that Hong Kong has no equity ratio restrictions for Hong Kong-funded enterprises in Shenzhen and Zhuhai when choosing Hong Kong as the arbitration venue—an arrangement that also applies to Macao-funded enterprises. He added that the nomination process for arbitrators is progressing and that the first roster is expected to be announced within the year, facilitating “soft connectivity” for alternative dispute resolution in the region.

Three distinguished scholars—Prof. Wang Chao, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Macau; Prof. Xi Chao, Dean of the Faculty of Law of The Chinese University of Hong Kong; and Prof. Zhang Liang, Dean of the School of Law of Sun Yat-sen University—delivered keynote speeches. They explored the paths and future development of GBA arbitration institutions in cross-border commercial dispute resolution from the perspectives of cross-cultural dynamics, institutional synergy, and policy innovation.

The forum featured two thematic panels. The first, titled “Institutional Innovation and Rule Harmonisation,” was moderated by Mr. Liu Fuchen, General Manager of China Legal Service (Macao) Company, and focused on mutual recognition of arbitral awards, procedural coordination, and optimisation of cross-border dispute resolution processes. The second panel, “Technology Empowering Arbitration Reform,” was moderated by Dr. Vong Keng Hei, President of the Macao Legal Exchange and Promotion Association, and explored the application of artificial intelligence in case management, online platforms, and digital evidence assessment, envisioning a future where digital tools and expert networks are fully integrated.

During the forum, a launch ceremony was held for the “Collaborative Mechanism for Building a GBA Arbitration Brand.” Ms. Zhao Fuhong, Vice Chair of the Guangzhou Arbitration Commission, introduced the mechanism, which spans three core areas: rules, talent, and services. A call for comments on the draft of the “Model Arbitration Rules” and related documents was also issued to facilitate substantive alignment of arbitration procedures.

Additionally, an award ceremony for GBA Arbitration Alliance Observer Certificates was held, marking further progress in institutional development. The forum also released the “Top Ten GBA Arbitration Cases of 2024,” showcasing the professional excellence and innovative achievements of GBA arbitration institutions in handling cross-border disputes.

Speaking at the first panel, Ms. Vong Sok Hei, Rosita, Secretary-General of the WTC Macau Arbitration Center, shared that the Center has witnessed steady growth in civil and commercial arbitration cases, particularly in construction leak-related disputes, with its training achievements recognised by the wider community. Moving forward, the Center will continue leveraging Macao’s role as a platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries to strengthen its “internal integration and external connectivity,” positioning itself as both a regional hub and an international bridge for dispute resolution within the GBA.

In the afternoon, member institutions of the GBA Arbitration Alliance convened a closed-door meeting at the World Trade Center Macau. Discussions centred on the implementation of the joint guidance issued by the Supreme People’s Court and the Ministry of Justice, focusing on enhancing the platform functions of the Alliance and promoting deeper integration of regional arbitration services.