In an attempt to become a modern hub in Southern China for domestic and international arbitration, the Government of Shenzhen announced at the end of December 2017 that it was combining two arbitration centers. The previous Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (“SCIA”) and the Shenzhen Arbitration Commission will be combined into one center called the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration.

The merger of the two institutions will help integrate the resources of both institutions and further build the Shenzhen arbitration platform.

This is part of China’s One Belt, One Road Initiative, which calls for investment in and development of trade routes in that region. The One Belt, One Road Initiative is part of the growth of Chinese exports and a push by China to expand its trading network.

Both the SCIA and the Shenzhen Arbitration Commission had jurisdiction to handle contract disputes and various types of commercial disputes. In December 2016, the SCIA promulgated new arbitration rules relying heavily on the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules, which made the SCIA the first Chinese institution to make this move.

The UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules provide comprehensive procedural rules regarding arbitral proceedings arising out of commercial relationships. The UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules provide a model arbitration clause, set out rules regarding appointing arbitrators, and establish rules related to the effect and interpretation of the awards.

Once the combination is effective, cases submitted to either of the institutions will be handled by the SCIA. It is still unclear what rules will apply to cases that the parties had agreed to submit to the Shenzhen Arbitration Commission and which panel of arbitrators will be used to arbitrate those cases. The combination into one arbitration body does mean that arbitration rules consistent with international standards, like the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules, will likely be applied to more cases in China.