VIAC delegations at China Arbitration Week 2026 (CAW 2026) and the China–ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2026 (CABIS 2026)

On 18 September 2026, the delegation of the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC) participated in and carried out a series of professional and cooperation activities in Beijing and Nanning, China, within the framework of the China Arbitration Week 2026 (CAW 2026) and the China–ASEAN Business and Investment Summit 2026 (CABIS 2026). VIAC’s presence at these major Chinese arbitration events and regional forums reflects its continued efforts to expand regional engagement, strengthen institutional cooperation, and promote the development of commercial arbitration in cross-border transactions.

China Arbitration Summit 2026 & China High-level Dialogue on Maritime and Commercial Arbitration (Beijing, China)

At the China Arbitration Summit 2026 & China High-level Dialogue on Maritime and Commercial Arbitration held in Beijing, China on 18 September 2026, Mr. Vu Anh Duong – Permanent Vice President cum Secretary General of VIAC delivered a presentation entitled “Principle-based Innovation to Optimize International Arbitration Practice.”

This Summit was a flagship event of China Arbitration Week 2026, held from 15 to 21 September 2026 in Beijing. This year’s theme is “International Arbitration in a Changing World,” and the Summit also marked two significant milestones: the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and the 70th anniversary of the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC). The event brought together prominent representatives of the international arbitration, legal and dispute resolution communities to discuss key trends shaping international arbitration, including strengthening global rule-of-law integration, advancing innovation while safeguarding the fundamental values of arbitration, and enhancing the role of arbitration in supporting the development of industries and economic sectors.

 Mr. Vu Anh Duong – Permanent Vice President cum Secretary General of the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC) delivering his presentation at the event

In his presentation, VIAC’s representative emphasised that innovation in arbitration should remain grounded in the core values of the process, including party autonomy, procedural flexibility, efficiency in dispute resolution, and the integrity of arbitral proceedings. From the perspective of an arbitral institution in Vietnam, Mr. Vu Anh Duong highlighted three key areas of innovation pursued by VIAC: enhancing procedural proportionality and the proactive role of arbitral tribunals in case management; applying technology to improve accessibility, transparency and efficiency without replacing the role of participants in arbitral proceedings; and strengthening the role and standards of arbitral institutions through higher standards for arbitrators and enhanced procedural support and oversight. These directions have been incorporated into the VIAC Rules of Arbitration 2026, launched during Vietnam ADR Week 2026 and officially effective from 1 July 2026.

Drawing from VIAC’s own experience of institutional innovation, the presentation also underscored the need for stronger dialogue among arbitral institutions in Asia, with a view to jointly contributing to the development of new standards for the next stage of international arbitration.

VIAC and CIETAC signing a Memorandum of Understanding during the China Arbitration Summit 2026 & China High-level Dialogue on Maritime and Commercial Arbitration

Also on this occasion, VIAC and CIETAC officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking an important milestone in strengthening cooperation between the two arbitral institutions. The MoU is expected to further promote professional connectivity, exchanges of institutional experience, and the development of effective dispute resolution mechanisms serving cross-border trade and investment between Vietnam, China and the wider region.

China–ASEAN Business Law Forum: New Pathways for Commercial Law Cooperation between Hong Kong SAR and ASEAN (Nanning, China)

From 17 to 19 September 2026, the VIAC delegation led by Prof. Dr. Le Hong Hanh – VIAC President, participated in activities held within the framework of the 23rd China–ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS) in Nanning, Guangxi, China. CABIS is one of the key regional platforms for economic, trade and investment cooperation between China and ASEAN, bringing together representatives of government agencies, institutions, business communities and professional sectors from across the region.

Within the framework of CABIS, the China–ASEAN Business Law Forum was held on the afternoon of 18 September 2026 under the theme “New Pathways for Commercial Law Cooperation between Hong Kong and ASEAN.” The Forum focused on a number of topical legal and commercial issues, including diversified mechanisms for resolving international commercial disputes, the prevention of ethical risks and legal regulation of artificial intelligence, as well as compliance governance in international business activities.

At the Forum, Prof. Dr. Le Hong Hanh – President of VIAC delivered a presentation on the role of arbitration and ADR in supporting cross-border trade and investment between Vietnam and China. His presentation focused on common legal risks arising in international transactions, the need to enhance legal awareness among businesses from both countries, and the role of dispute resolution institutions in preventing, managing and resolving disputes.

Prof. Dr. Le Hong Hanh – President of the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC) speaking at the event

Also during the event, VIAC and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Guangxi Committee (CCPIT Guangxi) officially announced the Memorandum of Understanding between the two sides. This cooperation comes against the backdrop of the continued strong development of trade and investment relations between Vietnam and Guangxi, with bilateral import-export turnover reaching USD 43.51 billion in 2025, an increase of 4.77% (according to data from China Custom). On this basis, VIAC and CCPIT Guangxi aim to promote cooperation in areas including professional legal exchanges, training, and capacity building for enterprises in preventing and managing legal risks arising from international commercial transactions.

VIAC’s presence at CAW 2026 and CABIS 2026, together with the new cooperation milestones established with CIETAC and CCPIT Guangxi, further demonstrates VIAC’s continued efforts to expand its international cooperation network, strengthen regional connectivity, and enhance the presence of Vietnamese commercial arbitration within the international dispute resolution landscape.

Through its activities in Beijing and Nanning, VIAC continues to demonstrate the proactive engagement of a Vietnamese arbitral institution in regional forums, deepen connections with international partners, and contribute the perspectives and experience of Vietnamese commercial arbitration to broader regional and international discussions. These activities also represent an important step in VIAC’s direction of supporting the business community in cross-border transactions while contributing to the development of Vietnam’s ADR ecosystem towards greater professionalism, modernisation and international integration.