From August 29 to 30, 2026, AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre (AALCO-HKRAC) participated for the second time, by invitation, in the 2026 Shenzhen Legal Expo (Legal Expo) hosted by the Shenzhen Lawyers Association. Through keynote speeches, booth exhibitions, and project roadshows, the Centre introduced its international legal and dispute resolution services and outlined potential areas for legal cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
Keynote Speech: Arbitration Strategies in the APEC Region
During the Legal Expo, Prof. Nick Chan, BBS, MH, JP, director of AALCO-HKRAC, was invited to deliver a keynote speech on the theme of “Arbitration Strategies for Going Global in the APEC Region.” The speech covered risks faced by Chinese enterprises expanding into overseas markets, including data compliance requirements, changes in host country laws, and multi-tiered regulatory challenges, while also highlighting the strategic significance of market diversification, particularly under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Combining multiple case studies, Prof. Nick Chan deeply analyzed the risks of Chinese enterprises going global in terms of data compliance, changes in host country laws, and multi-dimensional regulation. He emphasized the strategic value of market diversification, especially the Belt and Road Initiative. He also highlighted the unique advantages of AALCO-HKRAC in bridging APEC regional economic and trade rules, rooted in the foundation of rule of law cooperation across Asia, Africa, and Global South countries. He systematically explained the Centre’s key role and strategic significance in coordinating cross-border commercial dispute resolution, opening international legal service channels, and improving the foreign-related rule of law system in the Greater Bay Area. Summarizing the current landscape, he stated that the Centre serves as a bridge between Asia-Africa legal cooperation and APEC regional economic and trade rules. At the same time, he suggested that Chinese enterprises should not only focus on “going out,” but also pay attention to “going in” and “going up.”
Prof. Nick Chan also emphasized in his speech that in a complex and volatile international economic and trade environment, geopolitical factors are increasingly becoming a major challenge for enterprises going global. As an intergovernmental international organization jointly supported and established by the 49 member states of AALCO, the Centre legally enjoys international organization privileges and immunities. This effectively avoids the potential impact of a single country’s legal system or local protectionism on dispute resolution proceedings. The Centre consistently maintains a “country-neutral” status, remaining free from any undue interference by any single nation when handling cross-border commercial disputes. This mechanism carries practical significance for safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of enterprises amid rising geopolitical risks.
Roadshow Session: The Centre’s Hub Role
Mr. Dennis Cai, Deputy Director of AALCO-HKRAC, simultaneously conducted a project roadshow, focusing on the Centre’s function as an international legal hub and the specific cooperation opportunities brought by Shenzhen-Hong Kong legal synergy. The roadshow covered the types of services offered by the Centre, as well as potential directions for cooperation with regional enterprises and the legal community.
Booth Exhibition and Industry Exchange
The Centre also set up an information booth at this event to showcase its dispute resolution service system, international legal resources, and the achievements of Shenzhen-Hong Kong legal cooperation. Representatives from the Centre answered questions on-site from legal practitioners, corporate representatives, and other visitors. Discussions covered topics such as cross-border arbitration services, legal risk management for outbound investment, and bilateral cooperation frameworks.
The Centre expressed its gratitude to the Shenzhen Lawyers Association and the event organizers for their coordination and support, as well as to all the visitors from various sectors who visited the booth and engaged in exchanges during the Legal Expo.
Looking ahead, AALCO-HKRAC will continue to focus on cross-border and APEC regional legal services, deepen its cooperation with the Shenzhen legal community, continuously participate in the construction of foreign-related rule of law in the Greater Bay Area, and provide dispute resolution service support for cross-border enterprises.
