On the afternoon of October 15, 2024, the 2nd China-Latin America International Arbitration Forum, jointly organized by the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC), the Chamber of Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CIESP/FIESP),  the Order of Attorneys of Brazil, the international branch of LIDE (Group of Corporate Leaders) in China,  and the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Brazil,  was successfully held in São Paulo, Brazil. This forum received strong support from the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Representative Office in Brazil and Latin American top-tier law firm Demarest Advogados. Mr. Wang Chengjie, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of CIETAC, Mr. Martim Della Valle, Member of the Expert Committee of the CIESP/FIESP, Mr. Zhang Guanghua, President of the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Brazil and CEO of Bank of China (Brazil) Limited,  Mr. Ricardo Aprigliano, Vice President of the Center for Arbitration and Mediation of the Chamber of Commerce Brazil-Canada (CAM-CCBC). , and Mr. Zhang Jun, Head of the Demarest Advogados’s China Desk,  attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. The opening ceremony was chaired by Mr. Guo Yinghui, General Representative of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Representative Office in Brazil and Secretary General of the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Brazil. The forum was extensively covered by media outlets such as Xinhua News Agency. 

Secretary-General Wang Chengjie pointed out in his opening remarks that Latin American countries, represented by Brazil, are important extensions of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and pivotal regional nodes for the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In recent years, China-Latin America economic and trade cooperation has flourished, with 22 Latin American countries having signed BRI cooperation documents with China. The vibrant China-Latin America economic and trade relations have achieved remarkable results but have also led to an increase in commercial disputes and a growing demand for dispute resolution. Arbitration, as an internationally recognized dispute resolution method, plays an important role in promoting international economic and trade cooperation. CIETAC, to meet the high-quality dispute resolution needs of Chinese and foreign parties and to serve economic and trade cooperation, has consistently maintained advanced rules and continued to build a professional, international, and high-quality arbitrator team, providing diversified dispute resolution services and actively building an international exchange and cooperation platform. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Brazil. The Latin American Arbitration Forum held in São Paulo, Brazil, not only commemorates the long-standing friendly relations between the two countries but also serves as an important platform for deepening exchanges and cooperation in the legal arbitration field between China and Latin America. CIETAC is willing to work together with the Latin American arbitration legal community to jointly build an arbitration ecosystem that conforms to the legal cultures and values of China and Latin America, to promote high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and to advance the construction of a China-Latin America community with a shared future.

(Wang Chengjie, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of CIETAC Gave the Opening Remarks)

In his address, Member Martim Della Valle stated that China and Brazil have maintained long-standing friendly diplomatic relations, with China being Brazil’s largest trading partner. Faced with a series of commercial disputes arising from frequent economic and trade exchanges, CIETAC and the CIESP/FIESP should work together to provide higher-quality services to meet the evolving demands of dispute resolution and promote bilateral economic and trade development.

(Mr. Martim Della Valle, Member of the Expert Committee of the CIESP/FIESP Gave the Opening Remarks)

President Zhang Guanghua pointed out in his address that as economic and trade cooperation between China and Latin American countries becomes increasingly close, Chinese and Brazilian enterprises have shown a good trend in cooperation in multiple fields and dimensions. Today’s forum is not only an important initiative to promote the development of China-Latin America arbitration, but also an important prelude to deepening China-Latin America legal and governance cooperation. As a bridge connecting Chinese enterprises with the Brazilian business community, the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Brazil is willing to actively promote the integration and development of commercial dispute resolution mechanisms together with CIETAC and other parties and contribute to the fair, efficient, convenient, and low-cost resolution of international commercial disputes.

[Mr. Zhang Guanghua, President of the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Brazil and CEO of Bank of China (Brazil) Limited Gave the Opening Remarks]

Vice President Ricardo Aprigliano stated that CAM-CCBC has maintained a friendly cooperative relationship with CIETAC for a long time. The CIETAC delegation was invited to attend the São Paulo Arbitration Week series of activities, which is of great significance for deepening cooperation between international arbitration institutions and promoting the integrated development of international arbitration. He hoped that both sides would further explore diverse cooperation models and jointly contribute to the development of dispute resolution in Spanish-speaking countries.

[Mr. Ricardo Aprigliano, Vice President of the Center for Arbitration and Mediation of the Chamber of Commerce Brazil-Canada (CAM-CCBC) Gave the Opening Remarks]

Advisor Zhang Jun stated that as one of the largest law firms in Brazil and even Latin America, Demarest has provided high-quality cross-border commercial legal services to Chinese companies operating in Latin America for many years. He looks forward to further strengthening cooperation with CIETAC, jointly enhancing the connection and exchange between the Chinese and Latin American arbitration legal communities, and promoting the development of China-Latin America economic and trade relations.

(Zhang Jun, Head of the Demarest Advogados’s China Desk Gave the Opening Remarks)

[Mr. Guo Yinghui, General Representative of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Representative Office in Brazil and Secretary-General of the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Brazil Presided over the Opening Ceremony]

The forum, themed “Crossing Boundaries: New Developments and Challenges in China-Latin America Arbitration,” featured roundtable discussions on two topics: “Behind the Scenes: Discussion on Dispute Resolution Systems in China and Latin America” and “Cross-border Challenges: Focus on Disputes in China and Latin America.” Chinese and foreign experts discussed cutting-edge issues in China-Latin America dispute resolution, explored future trends in cross-border dispute resolution between China and Latin America, and conducted in-depth discussions and exchanges based on relevant legal practices.

The first topic was moderated by Ms. Amenda Nunes Sampaio, Partner of Demarest. Ms. Lu Fei, Director of the Business Development Division of CIETAC, Ms. Lilian Elizabeth Menezes Bertolani, Secretary-General of the CIESP/FIESP, and Mr. José Ricardo Luz Junior, Co-chairman and CEO of the LIDE (Group of Corporate Leaders) in China, served as speakers. Based on their own professional fields and practical experience, they conducted in-depth discussions on topics such as the impact of cultural differences on the dispute resolution system, looking at the characteristics of Chinese and Brazilian arbitration legal systems and practices from a comparative perspective, and the impact of the development of dispute resolution systems on economy and trade.

(The moderator and speakers of Topic One, from left to right: Ms. Lilian Elizabeth Menezes Bertolani, Secretary-General of the CIESP/FIESP; Ms. Lu Fei, Director of the Business Development Division of CIETAC; Ms. Amenda Nunes Sampaio, Partner of Demarest.; Mr. José Ricardo Luz Junior, Co-chairman and CEO of the LIDE (Group of Corporate Leaders) in China)

The second topic was moderated by Ms. Camila Biral, Partner of Demarest. Mr. Cao Hongcheng, Assistant General Manager of the Legal Risk Department of China Communications Construction  and CIETAC Arbitrator, Mr. Luis Carlos Szymonowicz, Chairman of the International Relations Committee of the São Paulo Branch of the Brazilian Bar Association, and Mr. Wang Haocheng, Deputy Secretary-General of the CIETAC Hong Kong Arbitration Center, as speakers, respectively, from the perspectives of enterprises, lawyers, and institutions, combined with specific cases, share and exchange on the role of arbitration in promoting economic and trade development between China and Latin America, cross-border investment and trade and legal compliance risk prevention and related practical experience.

(The moderator and speakers of Topic Two, from left to right: Mr. Cao Hongcheng, Assistant General Manager of the Legal Risk Department of China Communications Construction  and CIETAC Arbitrator; Mr. Luis Carlos Szymonowicz, Chairman of the International Relations Committee of the São Paulo Branch of the Brazilian Bar Association; Ms. Camila Biral, Partner of Demarest.; Mr. Wang Haocheng, Deputy Secretary-General of the CIETAC Hong Kong Arbitration Center.)

More than 80 representatives, including leaders of Chinese enterprises in Brazil such as CGGC International Co., Ltd,  Gree,  BYD,  Taiyuan Heavy Industry Co., Ltd,  Great Wall Motors,  China Railway Materials (Hong Kong) Holdings Co., Ltd,  Zhejiang Energy , State Power Investment Corporation,  CGN New Energy Holdings Co., Ltd,  China Energy Engineering Corporation,  and Agricultural Bank of China,  as well as representatives from Brazil and Latin America’s arbitration community, legal professionals, academia, and the China-Brazil business community, attended the forum. The forum received widespread acclaim from the participants, who noted that the speakers shared detailed and insightful content, closely connected to practical realities, which laid a solid foundation for future exchanges and cooperation in the China-Latin America dispute resolution field.

Members of the CIETAC delegation took advantage of the breaks between sessions to engage in extensive exchanges and fruitful interactions with representatives from Brazilian dispute resolution institutions, lawyers, corporate executives, and legal professionals attending the forum.