The International Congress of Maritime Arbitrators (ICMA XXI) was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from March 8 to March 13, 2020. Dr. Chen Bo, Deputy Secretary-General of China Maritime Arbitration Commission (CMAC) and Vice President of CMAC Arbitration Court was invited to deliver a speech. Given the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, CMAC took the initiative to contact the organizer cancelling the on-site participation in Rio, suggesting to participate via video link, to reduce the impact of the pandemic on the conference. The suggestion has received positive responses and recognition from the organizer. All five delegates from China successfully participated in the conference and delivered speeches via video link.

The conference is divided into five plenary sessions on Arbitration Today, Current Arbitration Issues, Technology, and Special Industry issues. Dr. Chen Bo delivered a speech on the topic of "Latest Development of Law and Practices of China's Maritime Arbitration". She introduced the arbitration legislation and judicial review practices with analysis and cases. She also introduced statistics that outline the overall development of China’ s maritime arbitration. She said that the strong support from the legislative and judicial branch enabled positive environment for the growth of China's maritime arbitration. Under such background, CMAC had taken the initiatives and achieved innovative results in upgrading its Arbitration Rules and promoting online arbitration.

In the meantime, in other plenary or concurrent sessions, Professor Chu Beiping, Dean of the School of Law of Dalian Maritime University, gave a speech on the topic "Development in the Amendments to Maritime Code of China". Professor Qinghua Zhou from the School of Law of Dalian Maritime University gave a speech on "Thinking on The Soft Law of Evidentiary Rules in International Commercial Arbitration under the Belt and Road Initiative". Mr. Song Dihuang, partner at Huizhong Law Firm, gave a speech on "Freedom to Choose a Foreign Seat of Arbitration – From PRC law perspective". Ms. Zhao Xinwei, director of Shandong Hihonor Law Firm, gave a speech on the topic of "Recognition of LMAA Awards in PRC Action – Charterer Won Indemnity Claims in PRC Action against Shipper for Issuance Clean Bs/L under LOI".

The interactive discussions addressed key issues of concern. Dr. Chen Bo answered questions raised on the impact of the pandemic on the arbitration procedure. She said that the impact on the procedures of arbitration cases is temporary. The pandemic has also highlighted the significance of online arbitration. CMAC will continue to provide parties with efficient and high-quality arbitration services through online arbitration and online case acceptance.

The successful remote participation of Chinese delegates is of great significance for CMAC international presence, strengthening exchanges and communication with the international maritime arbitration community in terms of arbitration procedure upgrades and its information technologies.