On 20 September 2019, the 2nd International Maritime Law Forum on Free Trade Ports/Zones & 2019 Meeting of ACLA Maritime Law Committee was held in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province PRC. Under the theme ‘Exploring Innovation-driven Development of Maritime Alternative Dispute Resolutions in the Context of Free Trade Ports /Zones’, the event has brought together over 300 industry professionals, business leaders, legal practitioners, scholars within the global maritime community to discuss the key issues related to maritime dispute resolution. The event was co-organized by Trade and Investment Promotion Department of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone Administrative Committee, Maritime Law Committee of All China Lawyers Association (ACLC) and Zhejiang Ocean University, undertaken by CCPIT Zhejiang Pilot Free Trade Zone Service Center, China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone Research Institute, CCPIT Zhoushan City Committee, Capital Equity (Zhejiang Free Trade Zone) Law Firm and Wintell & Co., supported by Zhoushan Port Administration Bureau, CMAC Zhejiang Pilot Free Trade Zone Arbitration Center and Zhoushan City Lawyers Association. Sponsors included Reed Smith Richards Butler LLP, Zhejiang Tytop Law Firm, Weiheng Law Firm and Ricc & Co.  

Mr. GU Chao (Vice Director and Secretary General of CMAC), Mr. YUE Qinfang (Vice President of ACLA) and Mr. XU Zhangyan (Vice Party Secretary General of Zhoushan Municipal Government) delivered welcome speeches in the welcome ceremony, which was moderated by Mr. ZHANG Li (Deputy Secretary-General of Zhoushan Municipal Government). Mr. GU Chao said that the Chinese State Council recently has approved seven new pilot free trade zones (FTZs), marking a new voyage towards greater opening-up and high-quality development. He believes that learning from the global experience and innovation on FTZs and maritime legal system will benefit the future development of China's free trade zones/ports and maritime legal system. He hoped that participants could have a closer look at the development of international maritime law and have a better understanding of the current status of development of the FTZs and the actual needs of entities within the FTZs upon this forum.

The first panel was a keynote speech session moderated by Prof. YI Chuanjian (Zhejiang Ocean University). Mr. WANG Jing (founder of Wang Jing &Co.), Ms. XIE Changqing (CMAC Deputy Secretary-General), Prof. James HU (Shanghai Maritime University), Mr. Teruyuki SAGO (Partner of Okabe & Yamaguchi) and Ms. LI Haige (Vice President of Shanghai Commercial Mediation Center) delivered keynote speeches referred to innovation-driven development of arbitration in China’s FTZs, alternative dispute resolution and legislation in FTZs, arrest of ship in Japan, mediation in maritime disputes. 

In her keynote speech, Ms. XIE Changqing said the development of commercial arbitration should be an important indicator to assess the high-quality development of FTZs. Commercial arbitration is a key measure on improving the legal framework for the business environment of FTZs, for the purpose of building a free, open, transparent, fair, efficient and convenient business environment to promote economic growth and to protect consumers from exploitation and other illegal factors. CMAC has been actively adaptive to the new changes in the shipping industry under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), providing online arbitration and promoting a one-stop diversified dispute resolution platform for FTZs upon arbitration, mediation and judicial cooperation in the internet era. 

The second panel ‘Shipping, Trade & Finance in the Context of Free Trade Ports (Zones): Innovation, Inspiration and Creativity’ was an interactive session moderated by Mr. HUANG Chenliang (Deputy Secretary General, CMAC Zhejiang Pilot Free Trade Zone Arbitration Center). The speakers were Mr. DONG Qi (Vice President, Zhoushan Administration Committee of Marine Industry Gathering Area and Port Affair Administration), Mr. LEE Shi Yan (Assistant Registrar, Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration), Mr. YAN Bing (Senior Partner, Ricc & Co.) and Mr. LI Lianjun  (Partner, Reed Smith Richards Butler LLP Hong Kong Office), with Mr. HUANG Shungang (Senior Council, Ricc & Co.) and Mr. TONG Dengyong (Senior Partner, Beijing Weiheng Law Firm Ningbo Office) as panelists. Topics for discussion included the future of China’s bonded bunker fuel supply, blockchain-based warehouse receipts on liquefied petrochemical products, Singapore maritime arbitration and the Singapore bunker claims procedure (SBC Terms), roles and responsibilities of charterer in international maritime law and remedies for shipowner’s breach of charterparty, the role of ship and mortgage registration in ship finance.

The third panel ‘Navigating the Maritime Silk Road: ADR Innovation in Practice’ was a round table discussion moderated by Mr. CHEN Youmu (Senior Partner, Wintell & Co.) with the participation of Mr. YU Zheng (Partner, Rajah & Tann, Singapore), Mr. WEI Mingzhong (Director, Yang & Lin Co.), Mr. HOU Peng (Senior Attorney at Law, King & Wood Mallesons), Mr. WANG Pengnan (Director, Wang Pengnan & Co.), Mr. ZHANG Zhiguo (Director, Wincon Law Firm), Mr. WU Xianjiang (Vice President, Ningbo Maritime Court PRC), Mr. PAN Shaolong (Chief Judge, Maritime Trial Tribunal, Wuhan Maritime Court PRC) and Professor James HU (Shanghai Maritime University). The panel discussed issues such as the amendment of Special Maritime Procedure Law of People’s Republic of China, the conflict between ship arrests, maritime lien and cross-border insolvency and third-party funding in dispute settlement. 

The event has provided a significant forum to discuss the frontier innovation and trending developments of international maritime law in different jurisdictions and brought together esteemed experts from various domains for a lively, informative and far-reaching discussion to share their valuable insights, exploring the future of international maritime legislation and promoting the healthy development of FTZs in China.