On April 11, 2025, a delegation of 19 senior members led by Mr Fan Cunrong (范存荣 副主任), Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Shandong Provincial People’s Government, visited the AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre (hereinafter referred to as the “AALCO-HKRAC”). The delegation was warmly received by Dennis Cai, Deputy Director of the Centre, and other senior representatives. The visit aimed to deepen exchanges and collaboration in the legal field between Shandong and Hong Kong, with a focus on advancing practical cooperation in arbitration mechanisms and the cultivation of foreign-related legal professionals.
The delegation comprised representatives from Shandong’s government departments, judicial bodies, educational institutions, legal associations, and enterprises, including senior officials from the Shandong Provincial Committee of Political and Legal Affairs, the Provincial High People’s Court, the Provincial People’s Procuratorate, the Law Schools of Shandong University and Ocean University of China, and the Shandong Lawyers Association. During the seminar, Deputy Director Cai Weiping provided a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in Hong Kong’s arbitration legal framework.
Deputy Director Cai highlighted the Centre’s unique advantages as the first and only international arbitration institution in China established in Hong Kong under international law, emphasising its country neutrality, flexible and efficient arbitration mechanisms, and cutting-edge legal technology, which position it as a pivotal platform for resolving international commercial disputes.
The two sides engaged in in-depth discussions on multiple areas of collaboration. Regarding risk management for Shandong enterprises expanding overseas, the Centre proposed tailored legal support to enhance compliance practices. For cross-border commercial contracts, both parties encouraged businesses to adopt the AALCO Model Arbitration Clause to streamline dispute resolution. Additionally, plans were discussed to strengthen the cultivation of foreign-related legal talent through joint training programs and academic exchanges, addressing the growing demand for expertise in international legal affairs.
Deputy Director Fan Cunrong stated that the visit marked a new beginning for legal cooperation between Shandong and Hong Kong. He emphasised Shandong’s commitment to leveraging Hong Kong’s advanced arbitration experience to align regulatory frameworks and mechanisms, thereby providing stronger legal safeguards for Shandong enterprises “going global.” Deputy Director Cai Weiping (Dennis) welcomed the delegation and expressed optimism that the exchange would catalyze broader collaboration, jointly establishing a “Shandong-Hong Kong model” for international commercial dispute resolution.
The visit injected fresh momentum into the legal synergy between Shandong and Hong Kong, with both sides pledging to deepen cooperation in support of the Belt and Road Initiative and high-level opening-up policies.
