Beijing, April 1, 2026 - The “ICDPASO Hatamen International Salon Series — China-Kazakhstan Diversified Dispute Resolution Practices within the Evolution of Arbitration Law” was successfully held in Beijing. The event was co-hosted by the International Commercial Dispute Prevention and Settlement Organization (ICDPASO), the Astana International Financial Centre Court (AIFC Court), and the AIFC International Arbitration Centre (IAC), with support from the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Machinery Sub-Council and the Beijing Dongcheng District Lawyers Association. The event focused on China-Kazakhstan economic, trade and investment policies and the practical development of diversified dispute resolution mechanisms, with the aim of building a specialized international exchange platform and providing a solid legal foundation for high-quality China-Kazakhstan economic and trade cooperation.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Jason CHIA, Secretary-General of ICDPASO, noted that Kazakhstan is an important partner under the Belt and Road Initiative, and that bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, investment and legal services has continued to deepen. ICDPASO will leverage its advantages as an international organization to provide one-stop, full-chain dispute prevention and resolution services. ICDPASO will also deepen cooperation with the AIFC Court and the IAC to promote cross-jurisdictional regulatory alignment, and provide enterprises with legal services that conform to international practices and local conditions, thereby continuously optimizing the business environment.
(Mr. Jason CHIA, Secretary-General of ICDPASO)
Mr. YANG Kefei, Vice President of CCPIT Machinery Sub-Council, stated that China has been Kazakhstan’s largest trading partner and largest export destination for many consecutive years, with the machinery industry standing out as an area of strong complementarity and broad cooperation prospects. He pointed out that bilateral economic and trade relations rely on robust legal safeguards, and expressed hope that this event would help improve cross-border dispute resolution mechanisms, supporting the high-quality development in China-Kazakhstan machinery industry cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative through the rule of law.
(Mr. YANG Kefei, Vice President of CCPIT Machinery Sub-Council)
Mr. LIU Shihu, Deputy Director of the Arbitration Division of the Bureau of Public Legal Services Administration of Ministry of Justice, stated that in recent years, China has continuously improved its foreign-related arbitration system, advanced the development of international commercial arbitration hubs and world-class arbitration institutions, strengthened foreign-related talent cultivation and international cooperation, and established an efficient and diversified dispute resolution system. He congratulated ICDPASO on its remarkable achievements in exploring diversified dispute resolution mechanisms, and called on all parties to share the best practices and experience in Chinese arbitration and mediation to support the high-quality development of arbitration during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.
(Mr. LIU Shihu, Deputy Director of the Arbitration Division of the Bureau of Public Legal Services Administration of Ministry of Justice)
During the achievement release session, the ICDPASO Arbitration Court, the ICDPASO Mediation Entity, the AIFC Court and the IAC jointly signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to establish a long-term cooperation mechanism focusing on information sharing, joint event organization, and cooperation and exchanges in commercial legal services, further facilitating cross-border dispute resolution channels.
(achievement release session)
In the keynote speech session, Mr. Christopher Campbell-Holt OBE, Registrar and Chief Executive of the AIFC Court and the IAC, systematically introduced the operational mechanisms of the AIFC international commercial justice and arbitration system, its practices in handling foreign-related cases, and its support services for Chinese enterprises. He noted that the two sides share highly aligned beliefs and visions, and will work together through international cooperation, academic exchanges, and experience sharing to improve diversified dispute resolution mechanisms, provide efficient legal safeguards for cross-border investment between China and Kazakhstan, and jointly build an open and transparent regional business environment.
(Mr. Christopher Campbell-Holt OBE, Registrar and Chief Executive of the AIFC Court and the IAC)
Ms. LU Fei, Director of the Business Development Department of China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC), conducted an in-depth analysis of typical Sino-Kazakh economic and trade dispute cases. She systematically elaborated on key issues concerning the application of arbitration rules as well as the recognition and enforcement of cross-border arbitral awards. Drawing on her extensive practical experience, she provided clear and pragmatic professional guidance for enterprises on cross-border compliance management and efficient resolution of commercial disputes, injecting legal impetus to ensure the steady and sustained development of Sino-Kazakh economic and trade cooperation.
(Ms. LU Fei, Director of the Business Development Department of China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC))
During the discussion session, Ms. Meray Ozat, Head of Centre for Global Policy Leadership On Dispute Resolution &The Rule of Law (CGPL) in AIFC Court&IAC, and Mr. YAO Lingfeng, Full-time Member of Foreign-Related Legal Service Research Committee of Beijing Dongcheng Lawyers Association, held in-depth discussions on a range of topics. These included the development trends of diversified dispute resolution mechanisms between China and Kazakhstan, legal risk prevention in bilateral trade and investment, as well as the exploration and practice of cooperation among lawyers, mediators, arbitrators and dispute prevention experts from the two countries. They also put forward a series of practical and feasible cooperation proposals.
(Ms. Meray Ozat, Head of Centre for Global Policy Leadership On Dispute Resolution &The Rule of Law (CGPL) in AIFC Court&IAC)
(Mr. YAO Lingfeng, Full-time Member of Foreign-Related Legal Service Research Committee of Beijing Dongcheng Lawyers Association)
（Ms. Yang Zhaoying, Director of the General Affairs Department of ICDPASO, served as the host for the event）
At the closing remark, Mr. ZHAI Jingmin, President of the Beijing Association for Alternative Dispute Resolution, stated that the effective connection between commercial mediation, arbitration and judicial confirmation constitutes an important approach to the efficient resolution of international commercial disputes.
The event was held at a significant moment: one month after the revised Arbitration Law of the People's Republic of China came into force and one month prior to the implementation of the Commercial Mediation Regulation of China. It enhanced the understanding of countries along the Belt and Road regarding the development of diversified dispute resolution mechanisms in China and Kazakhstan, forged professional consensus in the dispute settlement sector between the two sides, and enriched practical paths for bilateral legal cooperation. Taking this event as an opportunity, all parties will strengthen exchanges and coordination, promote the organic integration of dispute prevention, mediation, arbitration and litigation, and build a fairer and more efficient cross-border commercial dispute prevention and settlement system, so as to provide strong legal services and safeguards for the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
（Mr. ZHAI Jingmin, President of the Beijing Association for Alternative Dispute Resolution）
Source: ICDPASO, By HUANG Huazhen, GU Wanning, CUI Tong