BEIJING, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai Arbitration Commission (SHAC) inaugurated recently its European hub in Malaga, Spain, speeding up its drive to better serve global cross-border trade and investment.
Inauguration of the SHAC European Hub is an important move for Shanghai to advance the building of the Asia-Pacific arbitration center, noted Li Zelong, deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai municipal government, during the launching ceremony.
While offering SHAC cases-involving parties overseas hearing venues, the SHAC European Hub can also provide administrative support services for ad hoc arbitration of global litigants, said Liu Xiaohong, head of SHAC.
As a comprehensive platform, SHAC European Hub integrates both legal and commercial services such as arbitration, notarization, legal ascertainment, intellectual property, and strategic consulting to serve both "going global" and "coming in" businesses, added Liu.
Establishing the SHAC European Hub is a pivotal step for China to further integrate into the international commercial disputes resolution regime, likely to further enhance China's voice in global arbitration rules-making, said Chen Lei, Chair of International Arbitration and Chinese Law at Durham Law School of Durham University.
Foreign experts present at the launching ceremony also expressed their hopes for SHAC to be a bridge in interlinking Eurasian legal resources and promote integration and innovation of international arbitration rules.
The European hub will be a window into the international community and to enhance international legal practices and cultural exchange for SHAC and Shanghai, said Lu Chunwei, deputy head and secretary-general of SHAC.
For Chinese enterprises, "going global" requires necessarily supportive services, while for foreign enterprises, especially multinational companies, they are eager to enter China market but lack knowledge about China.
Currently, the overarching task for SHAC European Hub is to increase its global visibility through strategic coordination and serve as a promoter of China-Europe communication and business cooperation, said Francesco Cappe, an Italian international commercial law expert.
With a clear and staunch objective, SHAC is going to craft the European hub into a professional service platform for global cross-border trade and investment and a preferred venue for "Malaga-Shanghai"-based international arbitration in the civil law system, Liu said.
(Edited by Duan Jing with Xinhua Silk Road, duanjing@xinhua.org)
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