about us
About the Organizer
Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (also known as South China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission, or Shenzhen Arbitration Commission, formerly known as CIETAC South China Sub-Commission and CIETAC Shenzhen Sub-Commission, hereinafter referred to as "SCIA"), was established in 1983 and was the first arbitration institution established at the provincial and municipal level. Moreover, it was the first arbitration institution in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao region after China's reform and opening up. Over the past 39 years, SCIA has actively promoted the innovative development of China's international arbitration within the Special Economic Zone of Shenzhen. In 1984, it took the lead in employing overseas arbitrators. In 1989, SCIA became the first arbitration institution of China whose arbitral award was enforced overseas in accordance with the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (the “New York Convention"). The arbitration and mediation services provided by SCIA has been extended to 136 countries and regions worldwide.


Internationalized Panel of Arbitrators
  • As the first arbitration institution in China to include overseas arbitrators in its panel, SCIA has been continuously strengthening its international network of arbitrators. Its panel of arbitrators covers 77 countries and regions, and almost all the countries within the Belt and Road initiative. 385 arbitrators are from overseas, accounting for more than 41% of the total, demonstrating a most internationalized panel of arbitrators in China.
Continuous Innovation on Arbitration Rules
  • With the changing market demand, and being oriented to the parties to arbitrations, SCIA has been continuously innovating its rules. It takes the lead in accepting Investor-State Dispute Arbitration; formulating the SCIA Guidelines for the Administration of Arbitration under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules; exploring the "optional appellate arbitration mechanism"; introducing Negotiation & Facilitation Rules, implementing the "exhibition mediation + arbitration", “chamber of commerce mediation + arbitration" and "Hong Kong Mediation + Shenzhen Arbitration" mechanisms; and establishing the "Four-in-One” capital market dispute resolution mechanism.
An Open International Cooperation Platform
SCIA has established close cooperation with many international organizations such as the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), and the ICC International Court of Arbitration (ICC), as well as many well-known international arbitration institutions such as the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) and the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC). It has co-established the China-Africa Joint Arbitration Centre (CAJAC) and has set up China's first overseas arbitration hearing centre, the "SCIA Arbitration Hearing Center—North America" in Los Angeles, United States. As an international arbitration institution based in the Greater Bay Area, SCIA has been incorporated into the "one-stop" diversified international commercial dispute resolution mechanism by the Supreme People's Court. Headquartered in Qianhai, SCIA took the initiative to establish the Guangdong, Hong Kong & Macao Arbitration & Mediation Alliance and jointly launched the establishment of the China Pilot Free Trade Zone Arbitration Cooperation Alliance. Through collaborative innovation, SCIA has been dedicated to enhancing the internationalization of China’s arbitration.