Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration Participates in the 2024 "China-Africa Joint Arbitration Center (CAJAC) Guiding Committee Meeting"

On April 10, 2024, the China-Africa Joint Arbitration Center (CAJAC) Guiding Committee Meeting was held at the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa (AFSA), with the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (SCIA) participating as the China-Africa Joint Arbitration Center Shenzhen (CAJAC Shenzhen). Ms. Shao Jinli, Deputy Director of SCIA Case Management Department, attended as a representative of SCIA.

CAJAC Guiding Committee Meeting

Members of CAJAC discussed the development of CAJAC under new circumstances. The SCIA delegation introduced the recent exchanges and cooperation between the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (SCIA) and Africa, as well as the innovative development and latest achievements of international arbitration in the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone in recent years.

The CAJAC Guiding Committee Meeting was chaired by Michael Kuper SC, President of the AFSA, the rotating chair institution of CAJAC. Mamadou Kone, Secretary-General of the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA), Millicent Shitakha, Business Development Manager of the Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration (NCIA), Chen Fuyong, Deputy Secretary-General of the Beijing Arbitration Commission (BAC), and Du Lijun, Director of Public Affairs of the Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (SHIAC), and other representatives of CAJAC member institutions attended the meeting and participated in the discussion.

Background Introduction:

In December 2015, the fifty-one member states of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation announced an action plan to establish the China-Africa Joint Arbitration Center (CAJAC), aiming to resolve disputes between Chinese and African natural persons and legal entities through appropriate mechanisms, and to promote and encourage the growth of trade and investment between China and Africa. Members of the China-Africa Joint Arbitration Center include the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (SCIA), the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa (AFSA), the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA), the Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration (NCIA), the Beijing Arbitration Commission (BAC), and the Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (SHIAC). According to the "China-Africa Joint Arbitration Center Constitution", each year, one member institution serves as the rotating chair, leading the Guiding Committee meeting and related activities for that year. All member institutions attend the activities to discuss the work matters of the year and jointly promote China-Africa international arbitration services.

The China-Africa Joint Arbitration Center Shenzhen (CAJAC Shenzhen), initiated by the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration, innovates arbitration service mechanisms for Africa. Firstly, it provides comprehensive dispute resolution services such as arbitration, expert review, mediation, and negotiation facilitation for resolving China-Africa trade disputes. Secondly, it provides services that meet the high standards and requirements of international arbitration and dispute resolution according to the special needs of China-Africa business, trade, and investment communities. Thirdly, it supports and promotes legal exchanges between China and Africa, jointly trains arbitrators and mediators from China and African countries, and encourages them to play their roles effectively. The CAJAC Shenzhen serves the "Belt and Road" initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, playing a greater role in promoting China-Africa economic and trade cooperation.