Guangxi is actively integrating into and serving the Belt and Road Initiative. By focusing on three key measures—strengthening service platforms, optimizing legal services, and solidifying the talent foundation—the region is continuously improving its supply of international legal services to fully support companies in their expansion into ASEAN markets. In 2025, Guangxi handled a cumulative total of 45 international arbitration cases, involving a total claim value of 149 million yuan.
Strengthening Service Platforms to Create a Main Hub for Dispute Resolution
Firstly, the focus is on establishing arbitration centers oriented towards ASEAN. In collaboration with 15 domestic and international institutions, including the ASEAN Law Association, the Asian Institute of Alternative Dispute Resolution, and the Vietnam-China International Commercial Arbitration Center, the China-ASEAN Commercial Arbitration Cooperation Center has been jointly established. Guidance documents for handling international disputes, such as the "Interim Arbitration Guidelines for the China (Guangxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone" and the "Practical Guide for Resolving Disputes in Guangxi's Financial Sector," have been formulated to promote diversified resolution of commercial disputes, providing arbitration services and safeguards for China-ASEAN economic and trade exchanges and regional economic development.
Secondly, the local dispute resolution network is being perfected. The Guangxi International Civil and Commercial Mediation Center has been established in a coordinated manner. Concurrently, public legal service centers have been built in the three major sections of the Free Trade Zone: Nanning, Qinzhou Port, and Chongzuo. Three professional institutions—the Mediation Center, the Beibu Gulf Notary Office, and the Nanning International Arbitration Court—have been introduced to these centers. By integrating four resources—lawyers, notarization, arbitration, and mediation—a "1+3+N" physical service matrix has been formed. To date, these centers have served over 72,000 person-times, handled 58 international commercial mediation cases, and one international sales contract dispute mediation case was successfully selected as a typical case by the Supreme People's Court.
Optimizing Legal Services to Precisely Meet the Needs of Overseas Expansion
First, international legal institutions are being enhanced to expand the service network. Active guidance is provided to legal service institutions within Guangxi to develop their international business. This has led to 12 Guangxi law firms establishing 14 branches in six ASEAN countries, including Vietnam, Laos, and Malaysia. Over 40 law firms have signed strategic cooperation agreements with more than 20 legal service institutions in ASEAN nations like Vietnam and Singapore, effectively serving companies in their maritime development strategies.
Second, "legal service parks" are bringing international legal services closer to the ground. Platforms for international legal services have been set up in locations such as the Pingxiang Industrial Park, providing professional safeguards like contract compliance review, precise policy interpretation, and overseas risk warnings for foreign trade enterprises and cross-border investments. Specialized judicial service windows have also been opened, integrating functions such as approval coordination, enabling business-related affairs to be handled within the park itself. Since the beginning of this year, these services have assisted 126 private enterprises, helping them resolve 29 legal challenges.
Third, large language models are being used to tackle legal issues related to ASEAN. In collaboration with Guangxi Minzu University, an AI agent for China-ASEAN legal consultation services has been developed. This tool provides companies with functions for retrieving, comparing, and translating legal provisions from ASEAN countries like Vietnam, effectively addressing challenges such as the "language barrier" and "difficulty in ascertaining foreign law" in international legal services.
Intensifying Talent Cultivation to Solidify the Foundation of International Legal Professionals
First, efforts to train international legal talent are being increased. The cultivation of international legal professionals has been incorporated into special support programs for training urgently needed specialists. Focus is placed on cultivating international judges, prosecutors, and legal service personnel such as lawyers, arbitrators, and notaries to enhance the overall level of international legal services. Since 2025, two sessions of an international rule of law talent training course and two sessions of a specialized training program for high-level international judicial adjudication talent have been held, training a total of 135 international legal professionals.
Second, joint training sessions are promoting talent exchange between China and Vietnam. Focusing on legal issues related to cross-border standard-gauge railways, a carefully planned and successfully held joint training session for Chinese and Vietnamese lawyers was organized. It involved 41 domestic lawyers and 16 Vietnamese lawyers participating together in training and discussions, effectively promoting practical cooperation in the rule of law between China and Vietnam.
Third, an international legal talent pool is being strengthened. Focusing on key areas such as international lawyers, arbitration, and notarization, specialized talent pools for international rule of law are being established. Currently, 157 international lawyers, 189 foreign and Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan arbitrators, and 146 notaries qualified for international notarization have been selected for inclusion in these pools.
Comments