On June 4, 2026, the 3rd International Maritime and Commercial Dispute Resolution Conference was successfully held in Tianjin as a key supporting event of the 4th Tianjin International Shipping Industry Expo. Hosted by the China Maritime Arbitration Commission (CMAC) Tianjin Maritime Arbitration Center, co-organized by the Commercial Legal Service Center of the Tianjin Sub-Council of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT Tianjin), and supported by the CCPIT Tianjin Average Adjusters’ Office, the conference, with the theme of “Innovation and Coordination in Maritime Dispute Resolution Under the Global Shipping Transformation”, brought together judges, scholars, legal practitioners, and industry experts to exchange insights, jointly discuss new trends in maritime dispute resolution and explore innovative pathways for maritime arbitration development. Dr. YANG Fan, Deputy Secretary General and Vice President of the CMAC Arbitration Court, delivered the opening remarks at the opening ceremony.

(Dr. YANG Fan delivered the opening remarks)

Dr. Yang pointed out that maritime and commercial dispute resolution must proactively adapt to changes in response to the evolving global shipping landscape. In line with new developments and demands in maritime arbitration, CMAC has advanced institutional and rule innovations, promoted ad hoc arbitration practices, released guidelines on ad hoc arbitration in multiple pilot free trade zones, and actively cooperated with relevant parties including Maritime Courts to jointly promote the innovation and development of multi-tiered maritime dispute resolution mechanisms. CMAC will continue to leverage the role of its Tianjin Maritime Arbitration Center, strengthen coordination and cooperation with relevant institutions in Tianjin, support the in-depth development of the Northern International Shipping Hub, and serve the high-quality development of the shipping economy.

During the conference, CMAC, together with the Administrative Committee of China (Tianjin) Pilot Free Trade Zone, CCPIT Tianjin and Tianjin Lawyers Association, jointly released the Ad Hoc Arbitration Guidelines for China (Tianjin) Pilot Free Trade Zone. The Guidelines provide clear procedural rules and practical operational guidance for market entities opting for ad hoc arbitration to resolve disputes. The Guidelines promote ad hoc arbitration practices that conform to China’s national conditions, embody forward-looking international concepts, align with international standards, and feature standardized yet flexible procedures, further fostering a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment in the Tianjin Pilot Free Trade Zone.

The conference actively responded to dispute resolution demands under the new development landscape, highlighted coordinated cooperation and institutional innovation, built a professional exchange platform, and delivered substantial outcomes. Moving forward, the CMAC Tianjin Maritime Arbitration Center will keep leveraging its professional strengths, deepen innovation practices, optimize service mechanisms, and provide solid legal support for building Tianjin into a world-class Northern International Shipping Hub.