Shanghai Emerges as Global Hub for Maritime Arbitration

Shanghai is rapidly advancing its position as a global center for maritime arbitration, building a comprehensive ecosystem that ensures rulings are legally recognized and effectively enforced both domestically and internationally, according to Cao Jie, Vice President of the Shanghai High People’s Court. Speaking at the Judiciary and Arbitration Forum and the Sixth China Maritime Justice and Arbitration Summit Forum at the North Bund Forum, Cao highlighted that Shanghai’s maritime judiciary and arbitration system has grown increasingly attractive to global participants. An expandShanghai Emerges as Global Hub for Maritime Arbitration Shanghai is the new point in its journey to becoming a global center for maritime arbitration as it is constructing an all-round ecosystem that will facilitate the legal recognition and the enforcement of the decisions made both locally and internationally. This is the view of Mr. Cao Jie, Vice President of the Shanghai High People’s Court. On the other hand, Mr. Lu Zheng, the Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau
of Justice, highlighted Shanghai’s peculiar position as the only Chinese city housing both local and foreign arbitration institutions, business organizations, and international representative offices. Shanghai has not only been the leader but also the pioneer in creating a comprehensive institutional and regulatory framework for temporary arbitration. Since August 2024, Shanghai has been the center of several international maritime arbitration cases, thus, demonstrating that dispute resolution is an area where the city gradually wins the heart of the world. Mr. Lu also mentioned that the introduction of the
temporary arbitration system for China will be through the newly revised Arbitration Law which will be effective in March 2026 when the law will be applied.
Lu Zheng, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Justice, emphasized Shanghai’s unique standing as the only Chinese city hosting both local and foreign arbitration institutions, business organizations, and international representative offices. The city has led the development of a comprehensive institutional and regulatory framework for temporary arbitration, a significant innovation in China’s legal landscape. Since August 2024, Shanghai has handled multiple international maritime arbitration cases, underscoring its growing global influence in dispute resolution. Lu also
announced that China’s newly revised Arbitration Law, set to take effect in March 2026, will formally introduce the temporary arbitration system for the first time. To complement this legal milestone, Shanghai plans to enhance its supporting services and infrastructure to attract more global parties seeking efficient, professional, and reliable arbitration solutions. Lu noted that these reforms will provide stronger institutional guarantees and higher-quality professional services, further consolidating Shanghai’s role as a world-class maritime arbitration hub.