KAMPALA, UGANDA – The Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO) successfully concluded its Landmark 63rd Annual Session from September 7-12, 2025, in Kampala, Uganda. The session served as a powerful demonstration of African-Asian legal solidarity and a significant milestone for the promotion of arbitration and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) across the two continents.
As AALCO’s supreme decision-making body, the Annual Session brought together delegations from its Member States, Observer organizations, and AALCO’s Regional Arbitration Centres to deliberate on pressing issues of international law and set the organization’s strategic direction.
AALCO-HKRAC at the Forefront of Dispute Resolution Dialogue
The AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre (AALCO-HKRAC) was a prominent participant, with Deputy Director Mr. Dennis Cai delivering a detailed address to the plenary session. His presentation underscored the Centre’s alignment with AALCO’s core objectives and its concrete achievements over the past operational year.
Mr. Cai highlighted AALCO-HKRAC’s unique position as the first arbitration institution in Hong Kong established by an international organization, providing a neutral and credible platform for parties from Asia, Africa, and beyond.
Key accomplishments presented to the Member States included:
- Expanded Transnational Coordination: The Centre’s active engagement in building bridges across the AALCO network, including a high-level delegation to Africa, a joint conference with the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA), and dynamic collaborations with the Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration (NCIA).
- Innovation in Specialized ADR: The development of tailored dispute resolution services for modern industries, such as the launch of a Sports Mediation Training Programme, the establishment of adjudicator training ahead of Hong Kong’s new Construction Industry Security of Payment Ordinance (SOPO), and a new mandate to resolve .hk domain name disputes.
- Robust Capacity Building: The successful hosting of international masterclasses, adjudicator certification programmes, and the “Fireside Chats” series, all aimed at cultivating the next generation of dispute resolution professionals in AALCO member states.
- A Diverse Panel of Neutrals: The maintenance of a specialized panel of over 300 arbitrators, mediators, and adjudicators from more than 35 jurisdictions, ensuring culturally-aware and expert resolution services.
Member States Formally Endorse and Promote Arbitration
One of the many central and impactful outcomes of the 63rd Session was the strong, consensus-driven endorsement of arbitration as a vital tool for international commerce and cooperation within the Afro-Asian community.
This commitment was formally enshrined in Resolution AALCO/RES/63/ORG 3, which explicitly endorsed the work of AALCO’s Regional Arbitration Centres. Crucially, the session’s report urged Member States to promote the use of AALCO arbitration clauses in commercial contracts, a direct call to action that significantly boosts the visibility and utilization of the centres’ services.
This decision provides a powerful mandate for AALCO-HKRAC and its sister centres, confirming the high-level support from member state governments for their mission to provide accessible, effective, and peaceful means of dispute resolution.
Organizational Milestones and the Road Ahead
This year’s Annual Session also served as a platform for key organizational decisions that will shape AALCO’s future:
- The unanimous re-appointment of H.E. Dr. Kamalinne Pinitpuvadol as Secretary-General for a second term (2026-2029).
- The welcoming of the Republic of Djibouti as AALCO’s 49th Member State.
- The adoption of the 2026 Programme of Work and Budget.
In his closing remarks, H.E. Dr. Pinitpuvadol, Secretary-General of AALCO, framed the upcoming 70th anniversary of AALCO in 2026 as an opportunity to honor the organization’s legacy and rededicate itself to advancing a rules-based international order that reflects the priorities of the Global South.
AALCO-HKRAC Reaffirms Its Commitment
Building on the momentum generated in Kampala, AALCO-HKRAC reaffirms its dedication to being a cornerstone of the AALCO dispute resolution system. The Centre pledges to continue its work in close coordination with all Member States and sister centres to advance the shared goals of promoting arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
“We are immensely encouraged by the explicit support for arbitration reflected in this 63rd Session’s outcomes,” said Mr. Nick Chan BBS MH JP, Director of AALCO-HKRAC. “ The official push for AALCO arbitration clauses is a transformative development. It energizes our team to further enhance our services and infrastructure to meet the growing needs of our member states and the international business community.“
The development of the International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed) in Hong Kong was met with positive reception from Member States during the Annual Session. The AALCO-HKRAC looks forward to supporting the IOMed and other dispute resolution centres in the region, creating a powerful synergy that will further solidify Hong Kong’s status as a comprehensive and leading hub for international dispute resolution.
