Dato' Sri Azalina Othman Said, Malaysia's Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), visited the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (SCIA) in China, on 19 Nov 2024. 

Azalina and her delegation visited the SCIA Tower in Qianhai, Shenzhen, gaining insights into the innovative development of international arbitration in Shenzhen since China's reform and opening-up in 1978.

Dr. Liu Xiaochun, President of the SCIA and Executive Chairman of the South China International Arbitration Center (HK) (SCIA HK) welcomed the delegation, saying that with the increasingly close economic and trade relations between China and Malaysia there will be greater cooperation opportunities in international arbitration between the two countries. 

He added that the SCIA hopes to enhance exchanges with Malaysia's business and legal communities to promote the economic and trade development of both countries.
Azalina said that Malaysia is advancing the development of the Johor Economic Zone, adding that she hopes the SCIA, as a leading dispute resolution institution in the Asia-Pacific region, can offer valuable experience to promote cooperation.

During the discussion session, Huang Guoyong, Assistant President and Director of the International Cooperation and Development Department of the SCIA presented the latest developments and exploratory experiences of SMART Arbitration in China from the perspective of the SCIA’s innovative practices.
Representatives from the Consulate General of Malaysia in Guangzhou, the Chinese Ministry of Justice, the Guangdong Provincial Department of Justice, 

Justice Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality and the SCIA accompanied this visit.

Representatives from Malaysia's Prime Minister's Division of Legal Policy and Development, Division of Policy Research, and Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC), and SCIA participated in the discussion.