Good News! Shanghai Commercial Mediation Alternatives Scored a Perfect 100!
Recently, the World Bank released the 2025 China Enterprise Survey on its official website. Among 59 business environment indicators, Shanghai stood out with 22 indicators ranking among the world’s top performers. In terms of commercial dispute resolution, Shanghai earned a perfect 100 score for mediation alternatives.
As the only commercial mediation institution in Shanghai designated to evaluation, Shanghai Commercial Mediation Center (SCMC)’s Director Zhang Wei, was interviewed by a number of media outlets yesterday.
Jiemian News reported, “Since China's accession to the WTO, the expansion of international services has provided development opportunities for commercial mediation. Shanghai, as an economic center, boasts a developed market economy and abundant legal talents”, said Director Zhang Wei. She added that “Shanghai has developed commercial mediation at a relatively steady pace, focusing on the exploration of institutional design. It took the lead in setting up the country's first independent commercial mediation institution - SCMC, which has become a model in the international standard evaluation, fully demonstrating Shanghai's leading position in this field.”
Director Zhang pointed out that in arbitration and litigation, outcomes are determined by judges and arbitrators. In contrast, commercial mediation allows parties themselves to determine the outcome. The parties, with the assistance of a professional third party, can clarify their points of interest and choose a solution acceptable to all parties. This helps maintain trade relationships and promote long-term cooperation.
Shanghai People’s Radio reported, Shanghai's score of 100 for commercial mediation alternatives is attributed to the city’s gradual development of diversified dispute resolution mechanism. Most enterprises now recognize mediation as a reliable option for resolving commercial disputes outside the courtroom. Director Zhang Wei gave a case example that a German auto parts company had a debt dispute with a supplier in Suzhou in March this year. Upon receiving the mediation request in the evening, SCMC immediately prepared materials, arrived in Suzhou by noon the next day, and successfully mediated the case. The entire process from filing to judicial confirmation was completed within 24 hours.
Director Zhang emphasized that “SCMC’s Sino-EU Co-Mediation Mechanism is recognized by international counterparts. For cases involving European parties, we align the mediation rules, documentation, fees, procedures with international standards.” Such international mechanisms not only elevate the expertise of our mediators, but also amplify China’s voice in international dispute resolution.
The perfect score of 100 in commercial mediation alternatives is attributed to SCMC’s fifteen years of unremitting efforts, the strong support of courts at all levels and relevant government departments, and dedication of all mediators and staff who have upheld their original mission while pursuing continuous innovation. In the future, SCMC will continue to move forward with higher standards and stricter requirements, to deepen the commercial mediation mechanism, to expand service areas, and enhance professionalism. SCMC will embody our original mission with concrete actions. We aim to inject lasting momentum into economic development, and to help Shanghai further optimize its business environment.
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