SCIA Hosts the First Lusophone Arbitration Congress in Macao SAR

The first Lusophone Arbitration Congress was held at the University of Saint Joseph in Macao SAR from 10 Oct to 12 Oct 2024.

The congress, themed “Coordination of Sino-Portuguese Arbitration: Bridging Legal Cultures and Expanding Opportunities”, featured discussions among around 40 experts from domestic and international backgrounds. It also gathered more than 160 scholars and arbitrators from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, as well as Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe and Timor-Leste.

Co-organized by the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (SCIA), the South China International Arbitration Center (HK) (SCIA HK) and the Lusophone Arbitration and Mediation Association (ALAM), the congress commenced with an opening ceremony on Oct 10 2024.

The ceremony was inaugurated by leaders of the Legal Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR government, the Permanent Secretariat of Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Macao SAR), SCIA and consul generals of Portuguese-speaking countries.

From Oct 11 to 12 2024, the congress continued at the University of Saint Joseph, with speeches delivered by representatives of organizations such as the Legal Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR government, ALAM, SCIA, SCIAHK, and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific (UNCITRAL RCAP).

Li Xiongfeng, Deputy Director of International Cooperation and Development at SCIA and Deputy Secretary-General of SCIA HK, and Li Yiming, Legal Advisor of SCIA Jiangmen (Jiangmen Arbitration Commission), conducted professional discussions on “Arbitration in the Greater Bay Area” and “Macao SAR’s role in Sino-Lusophone arbitration” respectively.

Participants of the congress also visited the SCIA Tower, located in Qianhai, Shenzhen on Oct 13 2024 to gain insights into the innovation and development of international arbitration in the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone.

The congress was supported by renowned international organizations such as UNCITRAL RCAP, with backing from the Macao SAR government, the Permanent Secretariat of Forum Macao SAR, and the embassies and the consulates of Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Timor-Leste in China’s mainland, Hong Kong SAR, and Macao SAR.

The opening ceremony of the congress was held on Oct 10 2024.

The congress was held at the University of Saint Joseph from Oct 11 to 12 2024.

Li Xiongfeng and Li Yiming conducted professional discussions for the congress.

10 月 13 日，参与本届大会的各个葡语国家代表到访深圳前海，参观国际仲裁大厦（SCIA Tower）,深入了解中国国际仲裁在深圳经济特区的创新与发展。

Participants visited the SCIA Tower on Oct 13 2024.