At the invitation of the Korea International Mediation Centre (hereinafter referred to as "KIMC"), Naiwei Chen, Vice Chairman of Shanghai Commercial Mediation Center (hereinafter referred to as "SCMC"), led the delegation of SCMC to visit KIMC from November 25 to 30 in 2022, and attended the first China-Japan-Korea International Commercial Mediation Forum.

The first China-Japan-Korea International Commercial Mediation Forum

During the visit, the SCMC delegation was invited to visit the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of Korea, and was warmly received by Cho Soo Jung (Director of the Trade Policy Division) and Kim Se-jin (Director of the Dispute Resolution Division). Director Cho and Kim introduced the policies and initiatives of Korea in the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution (hereinafter referred to as “ADR”) in recent years, and expected that this event would become a model project to protect the East Asian economic cooperation. Mr. Chen expressed his gratitude to the Korean side for their generous invitation and support to the forum.

The SCMC Delegation Was Invited To Visited the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of Korea

The first China-Japan-Korea International Commercial Mediation Forum was co-organized by KIMC, SCMC, Japan International Mediation Center (hereinafter referred to as "JIMC") and Korea Institute of Criminology and Justice (hereinafter referred to as "KICJ"), with the support of UNCITRAL Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific and Korean authorities. Ms. Athita Komindr, Head of UNCITRAL RCAP, Minister Kim Jong-chul of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Resources of Korea, President Lee Jong-yeol of the Korean Bar Association, Executive Vice President Lee Ho-joon of the Federation of Middle Market Enterprises of Korea, and President Kim Sung-han of the Korea In-house Counsel Association attended the forum and delivered congratulatory speeches.

Vice Chairman Naiwei Chen presented a commemorative nameplate to KIMC Chairman

Photo of SCMC Delegation and Korean Mediation Experts 

In the opening speech, Mr. Chen pointed out that, with the deepening of economic globalization, the use of ADR to prevent, mitigate and resolve conflicts has become popular in countries around the world, and this forum is of positive significance in building a regular exchange platform for commercial mediation. On behalf of the Japanese and Korean organizers, Haruo Okada (President of JIMC and Japan Association of Arbitrators), Tae-Hoon Ha (Chairman of KICJ), Prof. Nohyoung Park (Chairman of the KIMC and Professor of School of Law in Korea University), delivered opening speeches and expressed their expectations for the success of the forum.

Vice Chairman Naiwei Chen delivered an opening speech

The forum focused on the current status and future development of international commercial mediation in China, Japan and Korea under the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation (also known as Singapore Convention on Mediation) and international commercial mediation cases, with SCMC mediators' representatives delivering keynote speeches on each topic. Mr. Chen shared with the audience the history of SCMC's internationalization, the establishment of joint international commercial mediation mechanism and the necessity of establishing the China-Japan-Korea International Commercial Mediation Forum. Based on the traditional Large-scale Mediation pattern in China and the Belt and Road Initiative, Mr. Yuan shared with the guests the current situation, problems and development path of commercial mediation in China from three perspectives, namely, commercial mediation model, commercial mediation institutions and enforcement review standards. Mr. Hu said that "harmony" is one of the core concepts and spirits of Chinese traditional culture, and SCMC has made many useful attempts and efforts in aligning with international mediation rules while fully absorbing the excellent mediation culture, so as to further promote Chinese commercial mediation to shine in the international arena. The speeches of the three mediators were highly appreciated by the participants.

Vice Chairman Naiwei Chen (second from left) Delivered the Keynote Speech

Attorney Jiyu Yuan (second from left) Delivered the Keynote Speech

Vice Chairman Zhenyuan Hu (first from right) Delivered the Keynote Speech

During the meeting, SCMC had extensive and in-depth exchanges with KIMC and JIMC, and mediation experts from China, Japan and Korea reached a consensus on strengthening cooperation and actively promoting regular exchange programs in the field of commercial mediation among three countries. The representatives of the three institutions hoped that the establishment of a joint meeting mechanism would lay the foundation for joint publicity, mediation and training in the future, so as to provide efficient and effective legal services to the parties in the three region. The Chairmen of JIMC and KIMC both expressed that the development of international commercial mediation services in East Asia could not be achieved without the mutual exchange of mediation institutions from different countries, and looked forward to further cooperation with SCMC.

SCMC, KIMC and JIMC Held a Trilateral Meeting

Photo of the Directors in China, Japan and Korea

Photo of the Participants in China, Japan and Korea 

During the forum, Vice Chairman Naiwei Chen was interviewed by the Korean mainstream newspaper Legal Times on the important contents of the forum. He said that the conference has opened up a new path for China, Japan and Korea to explore international commercial dispute resolution, which can strengthen mutual exchange and cooperation and provide efficient and effective legal services to the parties in the three countries.

Vice Chairman Naiwei Chen was interviewed by Legal Times