BEIJING, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) - As globalization deepens, demand for cross-border legal services, particularly arbitration, is growing rapidly. On October 21, China's arbitration sector took an important step toward internationalization with the official launch of the Shanghai Arbitration Commission (SHAC) European Hub in Malaga, Spain.
As SHAC's first overseas branch, the hub will provide one-stop, full-lifecycle legal and commercial support for Chinese companies expanding abroad and for multinational companies investing in China.
It is learned that the city of Malaga was selected for the hub due to its strategic position connecting Europe and Africa, as well as its well-developed legal services sector and abundant international organizations, which provide strong support for the hub's operations and facilitate cooperation with global institutions to advance international arbitration rules and practices.
Liu Xiaohong, president of SHAC, said that establishing the European Hub is a key step in building a world-class arbitration institution and enhancing China's voice in international economic and legal rule-making.
Lu Chunwei, vice president and secretary-general of SHAC, noted that the hub's operations are expected to, in turn, enhance SHAC's domestic capacity and contribute to the growth of Shanghai's arbitration sector.
Chu Beiping, president of Shanghai Maritime University, said the new hub demonstrates the global vision of China’s arbitration institutions and provides a convenient platform for international dispute resolution.
Recognized as one of China's pioneer cities in building an international commercial arbitration center, Shanghai has become one of the world's most resource-rich arbitration hubs.
Established in 1995, SHAC is one of China's first pilot arbitration institutions. In 2024, it handled 8,047 cases involving disputes totaling 47.71 billion yuan, up 9.51 percent and 7.97 percent year on year. (Edited by Yang Yifan with Xinhua Silk Road, yangyifan@xinhua.org)
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