Interview: Dr Wang Wenying

HomeContentInterview: Dr Wang Wenying

Interview:  Dr Wang Wenying, Secretary General of CIETAC Hong Kong 

Reporters:  Wilfred Ho (Skadden) and Andrew Chin (DLA Piper)

CIETAC

1.  In recent years we have seen the proliferation of Asia-based arbitral institutions and seats. In your opinion, what makes CIETAC better equipped than your competitors to handle cross-border infrastructure, construction and project disputes?

近年来,亚洲仲裁机构数量和规模,以及指定亚洲为仲裁地的仲裁案件数量不断扩大。从您的观点来看,有哪些原因使得贸仲相比其竞争对手更有能力处理跨境基础设施建设和项目争议?A: 确实有越来越多的当事人选择亚太地区作为仲裁地,亚太地区内也有很多优质的仲裁机构。不过贸仲的优势也是十分明显的:

A: It is true that more and more parties choose the Asia-Pacific region as the place of arbitration. There are also many premium arbitration institutions in the region. The advantages of CIETAC, however, are very clear:

  • Since its establishment in 1956, CIETAC has focused solely on handling cross-border disputes prior to 2000. Up to now, CIETAC has accumulated more than 60 years of experience in cross-border dispute settlement, which arbitration institutions in the region cannot match. This practical experience accumulated over a long period of time makes CIETAC proficient in dealing with cross-border disputes.
  • High-quality Arbitrators. The quality and capability of an arbitration institution depends heavily on the quality and capability of its arbitrators. CIETAC has a panel of outstanding arbitrators. At the same time, CIETAC provides a flexible option for parties to appoint arbitrators from CIETAC’s panel of arbitrators or outside the panel.
  • Internationalisation of the Case Management Team. CIETAC has been attracting international professionals and making improvements to stay ahead of the needs of the international market, becoming ever more speedy, convenient, efficient, and user-friendly. Currently, CIETAC has more than 100 case managers.
  • Efficient Case Management. While respecting the independence of arbitral tribunals, where necessary, the case manager of CIETAC will give timely reminders and urge arbitral tribunals to abide by the rules and procedures, so that the arbitration can be speedier and more efficient and that the arbitral award can be successfully enforced.
  • Unique East-West Characteristics. Established by CIETAC in 2012, CIETAC Hong Kong is not only an arbitration institution established by CIETAC in Hong Kong, but is also an important part of Hong Kong’s market for resolution of cross-border disputes.  Due to CIETAC's unique East-West characteristics and with the ever-increasing number of China-related cases, CIETAC Hong Kong is becoming increasingly attractive to Mainland and foreign parties.

A:确实有越来越多的当事人选择亚太地区作为仲裁地,亚太地区内也有很多优质的仲裁机构。不过贸仲的优势也是十分明显的:

  • 贸仲自1956年成立,在2000年以前仅专注于处理跨境争议,到目前为止,贸仲已经积累了超过60年的跨境争议解决经验,这在亚太区内还没有其他仲裁机构可以比拟。这些长期积累的实践经验让贸仲在处理跨境纠纷上得心应手。
  • 高素质的仲裁员。仲裁机构的质量和能力很大程度上取决于其仲裁员的素质和能力。贸仲有着一批非常优秀的仲裁员。同时,贸仲为当事人提供了十分灵活的选项----可以从贸仲的仲裁员名册中或在仲裁员名册之外指定仲裁员。
  • 仲裁案件管理团队的国际化。贸仲一直在吸引国际专业人才,并进行改进以保持领先于国际市场的需求,越来越快捷,方便,高效,且用户友好。目前贸仲的案件经办人员超过一百人。
  • 有效的案件管理。在尊重仲裁庭的独立性的同时,必要时,贸仲的案件经办人在需要的情况下会及时提醒或敦促仲裁庭遵守规则和程序,以便仲裁程序更加迅速有效,仲裁裁决可以成功执行。
  • 融合东西方优势,形成自身特色。贸仲在2012年设立了贸仲香港仲裁中心。贸仲香港不仅是贸仲在香港设立的仲裁机构,同时也是香港解决跨境纠纷市场中的一个重要组成部分。由于贸仲独特的东西方特色,随着涉华案件的不断增多,贸仲香港对内地和外国当事人的吸引力越来越大。

2. With the recent Arrangement on Enforcement of Court-ordered Interim Measures between the Mainland and Hong Kong, how do you think that this Arrangement will affect the flow of arbitrations for CIETAC HK?
Q: 对于内地与香港最近签署的仲裁程序保全安排,您认为这一安排会如何影响贸仲香港的仲裁案件流量?

A: Although the application for interim measures by the parties of CIETAC Hong Kong cases have been approved and enforced by Mainland courts before the signing of this Agreement, we still welcome the Arrangement. It demonstrates the PRC Supreme People's Court’s strong support for Hong Kong and is a major boost to the attractiveness of Hong Kong arbitration.

尽管贸仲香港仲裁案件当事人提交的保全申请在此协议签署之前已得到内地法院的批准和执行,我们对此安排的签署还是持欢迎和支持的态度。此安排表明中华人民共和国最高人民法院对香港仲裁的支持,是对香港仲裁吸引力的重大推动,利好香港仲裁的发展。

3.  You have previously referred to the "brunch" feature of CIETAC Hong Kong, as it carries both the characteristics of a Hong Kong seat and a sub-commission of a Chinese arbitration commission. Given the increased internationalisation of the Chinese arbitration market, do you think we can expect to see other international arbitration centres adopting certain Mainland legal characteristics in an attempt to attract China-related foreign investment and project disputes?
Q: 您之前提到香港贸仲的“早午餐”特点,因为其既有香港仲裁所在地的特点,又有中国仲裁委员会分会的特色。鉴于中国仲裁市场日益国际化,您认为我们是否可以看到其他国际仲裁中心逐步采用一些具有中国大陆法律特征的规则来吸引涉及中国有关的的外商投资和项目纠纷?

A: This is certainly possible.In fact, it is already happening. With an ever-increasing number of cases involving Mainland parties or other Chinese elements, some international arbitration institutions have been considering amendments to their rules to incorporate more "Mainland features" to attract more Mainland parties.However, as mentioned before, CIETAC Hong Kong’s advantages remain very clear. Compared with other Mainland arbitration institutions, we, and particularly CIETAC Hong Kong, are more internationalised.Compared with other non-Mainland arbitration institutions, we have a better understanding of PRC law.These advantages enable CIETAC to provide better service to parties of arbitration cases with “Mainland features”.In 2018, CIETAC administered a total of 2,962 cases. The total amount in dispute exceeded CNY 100 billion.Parties came from 60 countries and regions, including 23 Belt and Road countries.

A: 这当然是可能的,实际上,它已经发生。随着越来越多涉及中国内地当事人或其他中国因素的案件出现,一些国际仲裁机构已考虑修改其规则,以纳入更多“大陆特色”,以吸引更多中国内地当事人。然而,正如之前所说,贸仲的优势还是十分明显的。相比于其他内地仲裁机构,我们,尤其是贸仲香港具有国际化的优势;相比于其他非中国内地仲裁机构,贸仲香港对中国法律有更深入的了解。这些优势使得贸仲香港能够为具有“大陆特色”的仲裁当事人提供更好的服务。在2018年,贸仲一共管理了2962个案件,争议总金额超过一千亿元人民币。当事人来自60个国家和地区,其中还包括23个一带一路沿线区国家。

4.  What role do you envisage CIETAC Hong Kong playing in the development of the Greater Bay Area initiative and the aim of establishing Hong Kong as the centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region?
Q: 您认为贸仲香港将在粤港澳大湾区的发展、以及建立香港为亚太地区国际法律和争议解决服务中心的目标中扮演什么样的角色?

A: As mentioned earlier, as an arbitration institution established by CIETAC in Hong Kong, CIETAC Hong Kong serves as a bridge and a link to Mainland China. We hope to work with the dispute resolution institutions in the Greater Bay Area to build a more efficient dispute resolution platform.   Given Hong Kong’s geographical advantages and common law system, Hong Kong is in a unique position. CIETAC Hong Kong will continue make good use of our unique East-West characteristics in order to provide parties with better services.
A: 如前所说,贸仲香港作为贸仲在香港设立的仲裁机构,兼具内地及香港的优势,可起到桥梁和连接的作用。我们希望与粤港澳大湾区争议解决机构联手合作,将大湾区打造成一个争议解决的互联网络和高效的平台。鉴于香港的区位地理优势和普通法制度,香港处于独特的地位。贸仲香港会继续利用好我们独特的东西方优势,为当事人提供更好的服务。

Arbitration in the Greater China region

5.  In January 2018, the Supreme People's Court issued two new provisions on issues relating to the judicial review of arbitration and the reporting and review of cases involving the judicial review of arbitration. For the enforcement of foreign arbitral awards, do you think these recent legal developments have made the Chinese legal system more reliable for foreign commercial players in China?
Q: 最高人民法院于2017年12月26日公布了两份重要的司法解释,即《最高人民法院关于仲裁司法审查案件报核问题的有关规定》(法释〔2017〕21号)和《最高人民法院关于审理仲裁司法审查案件若干问题的规定》(法释〔2017〕22号)。这两份司法解释均自2018年1月1日起施行。对于外国仲裁裁决的执行,您认为最近的这些司法发展是否会加强中国法律制度,并增强外国企业对中国法律体制的信心?

A: The answer is definitely yes. There have been many commentaries and articles on the highlights and importance of the two judicial interpretations by practitioners and academics.Briefly, the two judicial interpretations have improved the judicial review system for arbitrations by the PRC court. These judicial interpretations once again demonstrate the Supreme People's Court pro-arbitration attitude, and will be of benefit to the development of Chinese arbitration and will enhance others’ confidence in the PRC legal system.
A: 这个答案一定是肯定的。这两份司法解释的亮点和重要性实务界和学界已经有许多评述和文章。简而言之,两份司法解释改进了中国仲裁司法审查制度,再次证明了最高院支持仲裁的态度,有利于中国仲裁的发展,也有利于外界对中国法制的信心。

6.  Following the introduction of the new Arrangement concerning mutual assistance in Court-ordered interim measures between the Mainland and Hong Kong, do you think we can expect to see any new trends in the Chinese arbitration sphere?
Q: 经内地与香港最近签署的仲裁程序保全安排,您认为该安排在中国仲裁领域会带来什么样的新趋势?

A: The Arrangement contributes greatly to the development of Hong Kong arbitration, while the impact to Mainland Chinese arbitrations is limited because Hong Kong arbitration law has always permitted parties to Mainland arbitrations to apply to the Hong Kong courts for interim measures, such as preservation of evidence and property, and conduct preservation.We also should do more to publicise and explain how the Arrangement works and to promote the advantages of Hong Kong, so as to attract more parties to arbitrate their disputes in Hong Kong.
A: 该安排对香港仲裁的发展贡献很大,对中国内地仲裁的影响有限,因为香港法律一直允许内地仲裁当事人向香港法院申请临时措施,例如保全证据、财产及行为。我们也应该做更多的工作来宣传和解释安排的运作方式,宣传香港的优势,吸引更多的当事人选择香港仲裁。

7.  The Belt and Road Initiative ("BRI") involves many state participants from lower-income or developing economies which may have a relatively less robust tradition of the rule of law. How has the BRI, and the increased importance of these state participants in the dispute resolution market, impacted arbitration in the region and in particular, the practices and case administration of CIETAC?
Q: 一带一路(BRI)中有许多来自低收入或发展中经济体的国家参加者,他们可能还拥有着不太健全的法治传统。您认为一带一路政策以及这些在争议解决市场中日益重要的国家参与者对该地区的仲裁、特别是对于贸仲的实践和案件管理,有怎样的影响?

A: The impact is enormous. The use of arbitration to resolve disputes is based on the  parties’ consent. When a country’s legal system is not adequate, parties would prefer to have their disputes resolved in a place in which the parties are more familiar with and whose legal system is more robust, such as Hong Kong.  As mentioned earlier, last year, parties to CIETAC arbitrations came from over 60 countries, including 23 Belt and Road countries. This shows that the demand for arbitration in this area is significant. As for whether the parties will ultimately choose arbitration and if so, where to arbitrate, this will depend on the parties’ familiarity with arbitration and their respective bargaining power during contractual negotiations.
A: 这个影响是巨大的。使用仲裁解决争议是基于双方的同意。当一个国家法制不完善时,当事人更愿意在双方更熟悉、法律制度更健全的地方解决争议,例如香港。正如之前提到,去年贸仲案件的当事人来自于60多个国家,其中23个都是一带一路的沿线国家,这说明该地区对仲裁的需求量是很大的。至于当事人最终是否会选择仲裁,如果是,何处进行仲裁,这将取决于当事人是否熟悉仲裁及其在合同谈判期间各自的议价能力。

8.  The 2019 Belt and Road Forum stressed the importance of dispute settlement instruments. In 2018, China began setting up the Chinese International Commercial Courts, which adjudicate cross-border commercial disputes and are aimed at servicing BRI disputes. Does CIETAC see this continued interest from the Central People’s Government in BRI dispute resolution as an opportunity for growth or as competing venues for the lucrative market of BRI dispute resolution?
Q: 2019年“一带一路”论坛强调了争议解决机制的重要性。2018年,中国开始设立中国国际商事法庭来审理跨境商事纠纷,旨在为一带一路中可能产生的纠纷提供服务。您认为中央对一带一路争议解决的持续关注对于贸仲而言,是一个可以被借助用来发展自身的好机会,还是会成为一带一路争议解决这个利润丰厚的市场上一个强劲的竞争对手?

A: CIETAC is not concerned that the establishment of the Chinese International Commercial Courts might diminish CIETAC’s market. The Chinese International Commercial Courts provide the parties another dispute resolution option. The establishment of diverse dispute resolution options is also a good thing for parties.However, arbitration still has advantages over the international commercial courts and other dispute resolution methods, such as the enforcement of foreign arbitral awards according to the New York Convention, the flexibility of the proceedings and the diversity in the expertise of arbitrators.
A: 贸仲不担心中国国际商事法庭的成立会消减贸仲的市场。中国国际商事法庭将为双方提供另一种争议解决方案。 多元化争议解决机制的建立对当事人而言是件好事。 仲裁具有商事法庭和其他争议解决方式所不具备的优势,例如根据《纽约公约》仲裁裁决的域外执行力、灵活的争议解决程序和仲裁员专业知识的多样性等。

9.  A signing ceremony for the Singapore Convention on Mediation has taken place in August 2019. If China ratifies this new Convention, do you expect to see mediation emerge as an equally attractive dispute resolution mechanism alongside arbitration?
Q: 《新加坡调解公约》签署仪式已于2019年8月举行。如果中国批准这项新公约,您是否希望看到调解成为一个与仲裁一般有着同样吸引力的争议解决机制?

A: The Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, also known as the New York Convention has achieved great success in the 60 years since it was signed. The Convention of on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters (the Hague Convention) and the Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation (the Singapore Convention) are now also open for signature. The two conventions will bring many benefits to cross-border dispute resolution. I do not think that the two conventions will undermine the advantages of arbitration or result in the replacement of arbitration by other dispute resolution methods.  CIETAC has always recognised the importance of mediation. One of  the unique features of CIETAC arbitration is the use of med-arb. We believe the widespread use of mediation can provide another means of dispute resolution for parties, so as to allow parties to freely choose the most appropriate means to resolve their disputes.
A:  《承认与执行仲裁裁决公约》,也就是《纽约公约》,在签署了60多年之后,已经取得了非常大的成功。《承认与执行外国民商事判决公约》(《海牙公约》)和《关于调解所产生的国际和解协议公约》(《新加坡公约》)现在也开放供签署。这对跨境争议解决而言是重大利好。我认为这两个公约都不会减损仲裁的优势,更不会使得仲裁被其他争端解决方法取代。贸仲对于调解一向是非常重视的。调解与仲裁相结合是贸仲争议解决的重要特色。我们相信调解的广泛使用能为当事人提供多一个争议解决的方式,从而使当事人可以自由地选择出最妥当的方式来解决他们的纠纷。

 

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