VIAC & CIETAC officially sign Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen institutional cooperation in international arbitration

On 18 September 2026, the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC) and the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Beijing, marking a new step in institutional cooperation between the two arbitration centres. 

VIAC & CIETAC sign Memorandum of Understanding within the framework of China Arbitration Summit 2026 & China High-level Dialogue on Maritime and Commercial Arbitration (18 September 2026) 

The MoU was signed on the occasion of the China Arbitration Summit 2026 & China High-level Dialogue on Maritime and Commercial Arbitration, the flagship event of China Arbitration Week 2026. Held under the theme “International Arbitration in a Changing World”, the Summit brought together leading representatives of the international arbitration and legal communities to discuss developments shaping the future of international dispute resolution. The 2026 edition also carried particular significance as it marked the 60th anniversary of UNCITRAL and the 70th anniversary of CIETAC, underscoring the long-standing contribution of both institutions to the development of international commercial law and arbitration. 

Representing VIAC at the signing was Mr. Vu Anh Duong, Permanent Vice President cum Secretary General of VIAC, while CIETAC was represented by Mr. Long Chuanhong, Vice Chairman, Secretary-General and President of the Arbitration Court of CIETAC. 

Signing of the MoU between Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC) and the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC)

The MoU built on a series of exchanges between VIAC and CIETAC in recent years. One of the first major joint activities was the Seminar on “International Arbitration: Facilitating China & Vietnam Trade and Investment”, co-hosted by VIAC and CIETAC in Hanoi on 8 May 2024, which brought together nearly 150 participants to discuss the role of international arbitration in supporting cross-border trade and investment between the two countries. More recently, CIETAC continued its engagement with VIAC through Vietnam ADR Week 2026, where Ms. An Ping, Deputy Secretary-General of the CIETAC Sichuan Sub-Commission, joined the International Arbitration Institutions Roundtable and shared CIETAC’s recent institutional developments, including its approaches to procedural innovation, digitalisation and the use of artificial intelligence in arbitration. These exchanges have laid the groundwork for a more structured and long-term cooperation framework between the two institutions, now formalised through the signing of the MoU.  

Under the MoU, VIAC and CIETAC will strengthen cooperation in promoting arbitration and other forms of alternative dispute resolution; exchange information on legal developments, institutional practices and regional and international trends in arbitration and ADR; and cooperate in research and capacity-building activities. The cooperation also creates a framework for the two institutions to develop more regular exchanges between their professional communities and to jointly promote awareness and understanding of arbitration among businesses engaged in international commercial transactions.  

VIAC and CIETAC cooperation activities

 Mr. Vu Anh Duong, Permanent Vice President cum Secretary General of VIAC, shared: 

“The signing of this MoU reflects VIAC’s commitment to strengthening substantive cooperation with leading arbitration institutions in the region and internationally. As economic and commercial relations between Vietnam and China continue to expand, closer institutional connectivity can help businesses and practitioners from both countries better understand available dispute resolution mechanisms and access effective arbitration services. We look forward to working closely with CIETAC through practical initiatives in professional exchange, training, information sharing and institutional cooperation.” 

Mr. Long Chuanhong, Vice Chairman, Secretary-General and President of the Arbitration Court of CIETAC, noted: 

“CIETAC welcomes the establishment of this closer cooperation framework with VIAC. Through greater exchange of institutional experience, professional knowledge and legal resources, we hope to further strengthen communication between the arbitration communities of China and Vietnam and provide businesses engaged in cross-border trade and investment with greater access to professional and efficient dispute resolution services.” 

Mr. Vu Anh Duong, Permanent Vice President and Secretary General of VIAC, presents a commemorative gift to Mr. Long Chuanhong to mark the signing of the MoU between the two parties 

The MoU signing forms part of VIAC’s broader engagement during China Arbitration Week 2026, during which VIAC has participated in a series of professional and institutional exchanges in Beijing. Earlier in the week, VIAC also hosted the Vietnam–China Arbitration Dialogue: Construction Disputes, Institutional Perspectives and Cross-Border Practice, its first professional dialogue organised in China, bringing together Vietnamese and Chinese arbitration practitioners, construction law experts and institutional representatives.  

Through these activities, VIAC continues to expand its engagement with the regional and international arbitration community, while strengthening institutional connections that support businesses involved in cross-border trade and investment.