Arbitration Law of The People's Republic of China (2025)

Promulgated by ： Standing Committee of the National People's Congress

Promulgation Date ： 2025.09.12

Effective Date ： 2026.03.01

Validity Status ： To be effective

Document No. ： Presidential Order No. 54

Arbitration Law of the People's Republic of China

Presidential Order No. 54

The "Arbitration Law of the People's Republic of China" has been revised and adopted at the 17th Session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China on September 12, 2025, and is hereby promulgated to take effect as of March 1, 2026.

President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping

September 12, 2025

Arbitration Law of the People's Republic of China

(Adopted at the 9th Session of the Standing Committee of the 8th National People's Congress on August 31, 1994; First amended pursuant to the "Decision on Amending Certain Laws" adopted at the 10th Session of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress on August 27, 2009; Second amended pursuant to the "Decision on Amending the Judge Law of the People's Republic of China and Seven Other Laws" adopted at the 29th Session of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People's Congress on September 1, 2017; Revised at the 17th Session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress on September 12, 2025)

Chapter 1 General Provisions

Article 1  This Law is enacted to ensure the fair and timely arbitration of economic disputes, protect the lawful rights and interests of the parties, and safeguard the healthy development of the socialist market economy.

Article 2  The development of arbitration undertakings shall implement the guidelines, policies, and decisions of the Communist Party of China and the State, serve the high-quality development and high-level opening-up of the country, foster a market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized business environment, and play a role in resolving economic disputes.

Article 3  Disputes arising from contracts and other property rights and interests between natural persons, legal persons, and unincorporated organizations of equal status may be arbitrated.

The following disputes shall not be arbitrated:

(1) Disputes concerning marriage, adoption, guardianship, support, or inheritance;

(2) Administrative disputes that shall be handled by administrative authorities according to law.

Article 4  Where the parties choose arbitration to resolve disputes, the principle of voluntariness shall be followed and an arbitration agreement shall be reached. In the absence of an arbitration agreement, if one party applies for arbitration, the arbitration institution shall not accept the case.

Article 5  Where the parties have reached an arbitration agreement, and one party files a lawsuit with the people's court, the people's court shall not accept the case, except where the arbitration agreement is invalid or otherwise provided by law.

Article 6  The arbitration institution shall be selected by agreement of the parties.

Arbitration shall not be subject to hierarchical or territorial jurisdiction.

Article 7  Arbitration shall be conducted based on facts, in accordance with legal provisions, and shall resolve disputes fairly and reasonably.

Article 8  Arbitration shall adhere to the principle of good faith.

Article 9  Arbitration shall be conducted independently in accordance with the law and shall not be subject to interference by administrative authorities, social organizations, or individuals.

Article 10  Arbitration shall implement the system of finality. After an award is rendered, if a party applies for arbitration or files a lawsuit with the people's court regarding the same dispute, the arbitration institution or the people's court shall not accept the case.

Where the award is set aside or not enforced by the people's court according to law, the parties may, based on a newly reached arbitration agreement, apply for arbitration regarding the dispute, or file a lawsuit with the people's court.

Article 11  Arbitration activities may be conducted online via information networks, except where the parties expressly disagree.

Arbitration activities conducted online via information networks shall have the same legal effect as offline arbitration activities.

Article 12  The State shall support arbitration institutions in strengthening exchanges and cooperation with foreign arbitration institutions and relevant international organizations, and actively participate in the formulation of international arbitration rules.

Chapter 2 Arbitration Institutions, Arbitrators, and Arbitration Association

Article 13  Arbitration institutions may be established in municipalities directly under the Central Government and in cities where the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government are located, and may also be established in other prefecture-level cities as needed, but shall not be established at each administrative level according to administrative divisions.

Arbitration institutions shall be jointly established by the people's governments of the cities specified in the preceding paragraph, together with relevant departments and chambers of commerce, and shall be public-interest, non-profit legal persons.

Article 14  Arbitration institutions established pursuant to Article 13 of this Law shall be registered with the judicial administrative departments of the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government.

Arbitration institutions organized by the China Chamber of International Commerce with the approval of the State Council shall be filed with the judicial administrative department of the State Council.

The specific measures for the registration and administration of arbitration institutions shall be formulated by the State Council.

Article 15  Arbitration institutions shall meet the following conditions:

(1) Have their own name, domicile, and articles of association;

(2) Possess necessary property;

(3) Have personnel in accordance with the provisions of this Law;

(4) Have appointed arbitrators.

The articles of association of arbitration institutions shall be formulated in accordance with this Law.

Article 16  Where an arbitration institution changes its name, domicile, articles of association, legal representative, or personnel, it shall apply for and complete the change of registration according to law.

Article 17  Where an arbitration institution is terminated, it shall complete deregistration according to law.

Article 18  The personnel of an arbitration institution shall include one director, two to four deputy directors, and seven to eleven members.

The personnel of an arbitration institution shall be composed of experts in law, economic and trade, science and technology, and persons with practical work experience. Among the personnel of an arbitration institution, experts in law, economic and trade, and science and technology shall account for no less than two-thirds.

The term of office for the personnel of an arbitration institution shall be five years per term. Upon expiration of the term, a new term shall be elected according to law, and no less than one-third of the personnel shall be replaced.

Article 19  Arbitration institutions shall, in accordance with laws, regulations, and their articles of association, establish and improve internal governance structures, clarify the responsibilities, authorities, and procedures for decision-making, execution, and supervision.

Arbitration institutions shall establish and improve systems for democratic deliberation, personnel management, fee and financial management, document management, and complaint handling.

Arbitration institutions shall strengthen supervision over their personnel, staff, and arbitrators, and promptly investigate and handle any violations of laws or disciplines in arbitration activities; where legal liability needs to be pursued, the matter shall be promptly transferred to the relevant authorities for handling.

Article 20  Arbitration institutions shall establish an information disclosure system and promptly disclose to the public information such as their articles of association, registration and filing, arbitration rules, roster of arbitrators, service procedures, fee standards, annual business reports, and financial reports, and shall proactively accept social supervision.

Article 21  Arbitrators appointed by arbitration institutions shall be impartial and upright, possess good professional competence, be diligent and responsible, maintain integrity and honesty, and abide by professional ethics.

Article 22  Arbitrators shall meet one of the following conditions:

(1) Have obtained legal professional qualification through the unified national legal professional qualification examination and have engaged in arbitration work for at least eight years;

(2) Have practiced as a lawyer for at least eight years;

(3) Have served as a judge or prosecutor for at least eight years;

(4) Have engaged in legal research or teaching and possess a senior professional title;

(5) Possess legal knowledge and have engaged in professional work in law, economic and trade, maritime and admiralty, science and technology, and possess a senior professional title or equivalent professional level.

Where laws such as the "Supervision Officer Law of the People's Republic of China," "Judge Law of the People's Republic of China," and "Prosecutor Law of the People's Republic of China" provide that certain public officials shall not concurrently serve as arbitrators, such provisions shall be followed; other public officials concurrently serving as arbitrators shall comply with relevant regulations.

Arbitration institutions may appoint arbitrators from foreign persons with specialized knowledge in law, economic and trade, maritime and admiralty, science and technology, etc.

Article 23  Arbitration institutions shall establish rosters of arbitrators according to different specialties.

Where an arbitrator is dismissed from public office, has his or her lawyer's practice certificate revoked, or has his or her senior professional title revoked, or otherwise no longer meets the conditions for serving as an arbitrator, the arbitration institution shall remove him or her from the roster.

Article 24  Arbitration institutions shall be independent of administrative authorities and shall have no subordinate relationship with administrative authorities.

There shall be no subordinate relationship between arbitration institutions.

Article 25  The China Arbitration Association is a social organization legal person. Arbitration institutions are members of the China Arbitration Association. The articles of association of the China Arbitration Association shall be formulated by the National Members' Assembly.

The China Arbitration Association is a self-regulatory organization of arbitration institutions and, in accordance with its articles of association, supervises the conduct of arbitration institutions, their personnel, staff, and arbitrators in arbitration activities.

The China Arbitration Association shall, in accordance with this Law and the relevant provisions of the "Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China," formulate model arbitration rules.

Article 26  The judicial administrative department of the State Council shall, in accordance with the law, guide and supervise arbitration work nationwide, improve relevant work systems, and coordinate the development of arbitration undertakings.

The judicial administrative departments of the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall, in accordance with the law, guide and supervise arbitration work within their respective administrative regions.

Chapter 3 Arbitration Agreement

Article 27  An arbitration agreement includes an arbitration clause stipulated in a contract and an agreement to submit to arbitration reached in other written forms before or after a dispute arises.

An arbitration agreement shall contain the following contents:

(1) An expression of intent to submit to arbitration;

(2) The matters to be arbitrated;

(3) The selected arbitration institution.

Where one party claims the existence of an arbitration agreement when applying for arbitration, and the other party does not deny it before the first hearing, upon the tribunal's reminder and record, it shall be deemed that an arbitration agreement exists between the parties.

Article 28  An arbitration agreement shall be invalid under any of the following circumstances:

(1) The matters agreed to be arbitrated exceed the scope of arbitration prescribed by law;

(2) The arbitration agreement is concluded by a person without or with limited civil capacity;

(3) One party coerces the other party into concluding the arbitration agreement.

Article 29  Where the arbitration agreement does not specify or specifies unclearly the matters to be arbitrated or the arbitration institution, the parties may supplement the agreement; if no supplementary agreement is reached, the arbitration agreement shall be invalid.

Article 30  The arbitration agreement shall exist independently. The formation, modification, ineffectiveness, termination, rescission, or invalidity of the contract shall not affect the validity of the arbitration agreement already reached.

The arbitral tribunal shall have the power to determine the validity of the contract.

Article 31  Where the parties have a dispute over the validity of the arbitration agreement, they may request the arbitration institution or arbitral tribunal to make a decision, or request the people's court to make a ruling. Where one party requests the arbitration institution or arbitral tribunal to make a decision and the other party requests the people's court to make a ruling, the people's court shall make the ruling.

A party raising a dispute over the validity of the arbitration agreement shall do so before the first hearing of the arbitral tribunal.

Chapter 4 Arbitration Procedure

Section 1 Application and Acceptance

Article 32  A party applying for arbitration shall meet the following conditions:

(1) There is an arbitration agreement;

(2) There are specific arbitration claims, facts, and reasons;

(3) The case falls within the scope accepted by the arbitration institution.

Article 33  A party applying for arbitration shall submit the arbitration agreement, the arbitration application, and copies thereof to the arbitration institution.

Article 34  The arbitration application shall specify the following matters:

(1) The name, gender, age, occupation, work unit, domicile, and contact information of the party; the name, domicile, and legal representative or principal responsible person, position, and contact information of a legal person or unincorporated organization;

(2) The arbitration claims and the facts and reasons on which they are based;

(3) Evidence and sources of evidence, names and domiciles of witnesses.

Article 35  Within five days from the date of receipt of the arbitration application, the arbitration institution shall accept the case and notify the applicant if it considers the conditions for acceptance are met; if it considers the conditions for acceptance are not met, it shall notify the applicant in writing of non-acceptance and state the reasons.

Article 36  After accepting the arbitration application, the arbitration institution shall, within the time limit prescribed by the arbitration rules, serve the arbitration rules and the roster of arbitrators on the applicant, and serve copies of the arbitration application, the arbitration rules, and the roster of arbitrators on the respondent.

After receiving the copy of the arbitration application, the respondent shall, within the time limit prescribed by the arbitration rules, submit a statement of defense to the arbitration institution. After receiving the statement of defense, the arbitration institution shall, within the time limit prescribed by the arbitration rules, serve a copy of the statement of defense on the applicant. Failure by the respondent to submit a statement of defense shall not affect the progress of the arbitration procedure.

Article 37  Where the parties have reached an arbitration agreement, and one party files a lawsuit with the people's court without declaring the existence of an arbitration agreement, after the people's court accepts the case, if the other party submits the arbitration agreement before the first hearing, the people's court shall dismiss the lawsuit, except where the arbitration agreement is invalid or otherwise provided by law; if the other party does not raise an objection to the acceptance of the case by the people's court before the first hearing, it shall be deemed to have waived the arbitration agreement, and the people's court shall continue to hear the case.

Article 38  The applicant may waive or amend the arbitration claims. The respondent may admit or refute the arbitration claims and has the right to file a counterclaim.

Article 39  Where, due to the conduct of the other party or other reasons, it may become difficult to enforce the award or cause other harm to the party, the party may apply for property preservation, request an order for the other party to perform certain acts or prohibit the other party from performing certain acts. Where a party applies for preservation, the arbitration institution shall submit the party's application to the people's court in accordance with the relevant provisions of the "Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China," and the people's court shall handle it in a timely manner according to law.

In urgent circumstances, the parties to the arbitration agreement may, before applying for arbitration, apply to the people's court for property preservation, request an order for the other party to perform certain acts or prohibit the other party from performing certain acts in accordance with the relevant provisions of the "Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China." Where a party applies for preservation, the people's court shall handle it in a timely manner according to law.

Where the application is erroneous, the applicant shall compensate the respondent for losses suffered due to the preservation.

Article 40  The parties or their legal representatives may entrust lawyers and other agents to participate in arbitration activities. Where lawyers and other agents are entrusted to participate in arbitration activities, a power of attorney shall be submitted to the arbitration institution.

Article 41  Arbitration documents shall be served in a reasonable manner agreed upon by the parties; where there is no agreement or the agreement is unclear, service shall be made in accordance with the manner prescribed by the arbitration rules.

Section 2 Composition of the Arbitral Tribunal

Article 42  The arbitral tribunal may be composed of three arbitrators or one arbitrator. Where composed of three arbitrators, a presiding arbitrator shall be designated.

Article 43  Where the parties agree that the arbitral tribunal shall be composed of three arbitrators, each party shall select or entrust the director of the arbitration institution to designate one arbitrator according to the procedures specified in the arbitration rules; the third arbitrator shall be jointly selected by the parties, or jointly entrusted to the director of the arbitration institution to designate according to the procedures specified in the arbitration rules. Where the parties agree that the third arbitrator shall be jointly selected by the arbitrators selected by each party, such agreement shall be followed. The third arbitrator shall be the presiding arbitrator.

Where the parties agree that the arbitral tribunal shall be composed of one arbitrator, the arbitrator shall be jointly selected by the parties, or jointly entrusted to the director of the arbitration institution to designate according to the procedures specified in the arbitration rules.

Article 44  Where the parties fail to agree on the composition of the arbitral tribunal or the selection of arbitrators within the time limit prescribed by the arbitration rules, the director of the arbitration institution shall determine or designate according to the procedures specified in the arbitration rules.

Article 45  Where an arbitrator has circumstances that may reasonably cause the parties to doubt his or her independence or impartiality, the arbitrator shall promptly disclose such circumstances in writing to the arbitration institution.

The arbitration institution shall notify the parties in writing of the arbitrator's written disclosure and the composition of the arbitral tribunal.

Article 46  An arbitrator shall recuse himself or herself, and the parties shall have the right to apply for recusal, under any of the following circumstances:

(1) Is a party, agent, or close relative of a party or agent in the case;

(2) Has an interest in the case;

(3) Has other relationships with a party or agent in the case that may affect the impartiality of the arbitration;

(4) Privately meets with a party or agent, or accepts hospitality or gifts from a party or agent.

Article 47  A party applying for recusal shall state the reasons and apply before the first hearing. Where the grounds for recusal are discovered after the first hearing, the application may be made before the conclusion of the last hearing.

Article 48  Whether an arbitrator shall recuse himself or herself shall be decided by the director of the arbitration institution; where the director of the arbitration institution serves as an arbitrator, recusal shall be decided collectively by other personnel of the arbitration institution.

Article 49  Where an arbitrator is unable to perform his or her duties due to recusal or other reasons, a new arbitrator shall be selected or designated in accordance with the provisions of this Law.

Where a new arbitrator is selected or designated due to recusal, the parties may request that the arbitration procedure already conducted be repeated; whether to permit such request shall be decided by the arbitral tribunal; the arbitral tribunal may also decide on its own whether the arbitration procedure already conducted shall be repeated.

Article 50  Where an arbitrator has the circumstances specified in Item 4 of Article 46 of this Law and the circumstances are serious, or has the circumstances specified in Item 6 of Paragraph 1 of Article 71 of this Law, he or she shall bear legal liability according to law, and the arbitration institution shall remove him or her from the roster.

Section 3 Hearing and Award

Article 51  Arbitration shall be conducted by hearing. Where the parties agree not to hold a hearing, the arbitral tribunal may render an award based on the arbitration application, statement of defense, and other materials.

Article 52  Arbitration shall not be conducted publicly. Where the parties agree to conduct it publicly, it may be conducted publicly, except where state secrets, others' trade secrets, or personal privacy are involved.

Article 53  The arbitration institution shall notify both parties of the hearing date within the time limit prescribed by the arbitration rules. Where a party has a legitimate reason, it may request postponement of the hearing within the time limit prescribed by the arbitration rules. Whether to postpone shall be decided by the arbitral tribunal.

Article 54  Where the applicant, after written notification, fails to appear without legitimate reason or withdraws from the hearing without the permission of the arbitral tribunal, it may be deemed as withdrawal of the arbitration application.

Where the respondent, after written notification, fails to appear without legitimate reason or withdraws from the hearing without the permission of the arbitral tribunal, a default award may be rendered.

Article 55  The parties shall provide evidence for their claims.

Where the arbitral tribunal considers it necessary to collect evidence, it may do so on its own; when necessary, it may request relevant parties to assist according to law.

Article 56  The parties may apply to the arbitral tribunal for expert appraisal on specialized issues for ascertaining facts. The arbitral tribunal may, based on the parties' application or its own judgment, refer specialized issues for appraisal to an appraiser agreed upon by the parties, or to an appraiser designated by the arbitral tribunal.

Upon the parties' request or the arbitral tribunal's requirement, and upon notification by the arbitral tribunal, the appraiser shall attend the hearing. With the permission of the arbitral tribunal, the parties may question the appraiser.

Article 57  Evidence shall be presented at the hearing, and the parties may cross-examine.

Article 58  Where evidence may be destroyed or may be difficult to obtain in the future, the parties may apply for evidence preservation. Where a party applies for evidence preservation, the arbitration institution shall submit the party's application to the basic people's court at the place where the evidence is located, and the people's court shall handle it in a timely manner according to law.

In urgent circumstances, the parties to the arbitration agreement may, before applying for arbitration, apply to the people's court for evidence preservation in accordance with the relevant provisions of the "Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China." Where a party applies for evidence preservation, the people's court shall handle it in a timely manner according to law.

Article 59  The parties have the right to debate during the arbitration process. Upon conclusion of the debate, the presiding arbitrator or sole arbitrator shall solicit the parties' final opinions.

Article 60  The arbitral tribunal shall record the hearing in minutes. Where the parties or other participants in the arbitration consider that there are omissions or errors in the record of their statements, they have the right to request corrections. If corrections are not made, the request shall be recorded.

The minutes shall be signed or sealed by the arbitrators, recorders, parties, and other participants in the arbitration.

Article 61  Where the arbitral tribunal finds that a party has unilaterally fabricated basic facts to apply for arbitration, or the parties have maliciously colluded in an attempt to use arbitration to infringe upon the interests of the State, public interests, or the lawful rights and interests of others, it shall dismiss the arbitration claims.

Article 62  After applying for arbitration, the parties may settle on their own. Where a settlement agreement is reached, the parties may request the arbitral tribunal to render an award based on the settlement agreement, or may withdraw the arbitration application.

Article 63  Where the parties reach a settlement agreement and withdraw the arbitration application but later regret it, they may apply for arbitration according to the arbitration agreement.

Article 64  Before rendering an award, the arbitral tribunal may first mediate. Where the parties voluntarily agree to mediation, the arbitral tribunal shall mediate. If mediation fails, an award shall be rendered in a timely manner.

Where a settlement is reached through mediation, the arbitral tribunal shall prepare a mediation statement or an award based on the result of the agreement. The mediation statement and the award shall have the same legal effect.

Article 65  The mediation statement shall specify the arbitration claims and the result of the parties' agreement. The mediation statement shall be signed by the arbitrators, affixed with the seal of the arbitration institution, and served on both parties.

The mediation statement shall take legal effect upon signature by both parties.

Where a party regrets before signing the mediation statement, the arbitral tribunal shall promptly render an award.

Article 66  The award shall be rendered according to the opinion of the majority of the arbitrators, and the dissenting opinions of the minority may be recorded in the minutes. Where the arbitral tribunal cannot form a majority opinion, the award shall be rendered according to the opinion of the presiding arbitrator.

Article 67  The award shall specify the arbitration claims, facts of the dispute, reasons for the award, result of the award, allocation of arbitration fees, and the date of the award. Where the parties agree not to specify the facts of the dispute and the reasons for the award, they may be omitted. The award shall be signed by the arbitrators and affixed with the seal of the arbitration institution. Arbitrators who dissent from the award may sign or not sign.

Article 68  Where some facts of the dispute are already clear, the arbitral tribunal may render a partial award on those facts first.

Article 69  Where there are errors in the wording or calculation in the award, or matters that have been decided by the arbitral tribunal but omitted from the award, the arbitral tribunal shall make corrections; the parties may request corrections within thirty days from receipt of the award.

Article 70  The award shall take legal effect from the date it is rendered.

Chapter 5 Application for Setting Aside the Award

Article 71  Where a party submits evidence to prove that the award has any of the following circumstances, it may apply to the intermediate people's court at the place where the arbitration institution is located to set aside the award:

(1) There is no arbitration agreement;

(2) The matters awarded are not within the scope of the arbitration agreement or the arbitration institution has no authority to arbitrate;

(3) The composition of the arbitral tribunal or the arbitration procedure violates statutory procedures;

(4) The evidence on which the award is based is forged;

(5) The other party has concealed evidence sufficient to affect the fairness of the award;

(6) The arbitrator has committed bribery, accepted bribes, engaged in favoritism, or rendered an award in violation of the law when arbitrating the case.

Where the people's court, after review by a collegiate panel, verifies that the award has any of the circumstances specified in the preceding paragraph, it shall rule to set aside the award.

Where the people's court finds that the award violates public interests, it shall rule to set aside the award.

Article 72  A party applying to set aside the award shall do so within three months from the date of receipt of the award.

Article 73  The people's court shall, within two months from the date of accepting the application to set aside the award, render a ruling to set aside the award or dismiss the application.

Article 74  After accepting the application to set aside the award, where the people's court considers that the arbitral tribunal may re-arbitrate, it shall notify the arbitral tribunal to re-arbitrate within a specified period and rule to suspend the setting aside procedure. Where the arbitral tribunal commences re-arbitration, the people's court shall rule to terminate the setting aside procedure. Where the arbitral tribunal refuses to re-arbitrate, the people's court shall rule to resume the setting aside procedure.

Chapter 6 Enforcement

Article 75  The parties shall comply with the award. Where one party fails to comply, the other party may apply to the people's court for enforcement in accordance with the relevant provisions of the "Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China." The people's court accepting the application shall enforce the award.

Article 76  Where the respondent submits evidence to prove that the award has any of the circumstances specified in Paragraph 1 of Article 71 of this Law, and the people's court, after review by a collegiate panel, verifies such circumstances, it shall rule not to enforce the award.

Where the people's court finds that enforcement of the award violates public interests, it shall rule not to enforce the award.

Article 77  Where one party applies for enforcement of the award and the other party applies to set aside the award, the people's court shall rule to suspend enforcement.

Where the people's court rules to set aside the award, it shall rule to terminate enforcement. Where the application to set aside the award is dismissed, the people's court shall rule to resume enforcement.

Chapter 7 Special Provisions on Foreign-related Arbitration

Article 78  Arbitration of foreign-related economic and trade, transportation, maritime, and other foreign-related disputes shall be governed by the provisions of this Chapter; where this Chapter has no provisions, other relevant provisions of this Law shall apply.

Article 79  Where a party in foreign-related arbitration applies for evidence preservation, the arbitration institution shall submit the party's application to the intermediate people's court at the place where the evidence is located, and the people's court shall handle it in a timely manner according to law.

Article 80  In foreign-related arbitration, the arbitral tribunal may record the hearing in minutes or prepare a summary of the minutes, which may be signed or sealed by the parties and other participants in the arbitration.

Article 81  The parties may agree in writing on the place of arbitration. Unless otherwise agreed by the parties regarding the applicable law of the arbitration procedure, the place of arbitration shall be the basis for determining the applicable law of the arbitration procedure and the court with jurisdiction. The arbitration award shall be deemed to be rendered at the place of arbitration.

Where the parties have not agreed or have agreed unclearly on the place of arbitration, the place of arbitration shall be determined according to the arbitration rules agreed by the parties; where the arbitration rules have no provisions, the arbitral tribunal shall determine the place of arbitration based on the circumstances of the case and in accordance with the principle of facilitating the resolution of the dispute.

Article 82  Where foreign-related maritime disputes or foreign-related disputes between enterprises established and registered in free trade pilot zones, Hainan Free Trade Port, or other areas specified by the State and approved by the State Council arise, and the parties agree in writing to arbitrate, they may choose to have the arbitration institution conduct the arbitration; they may also choose the People's Republic of China as the place of arbitration, and have the arbitral tribunal composed of persons meeting the conditions specified in this Law conduct the arbitration according to the agreed arbitration rules. The arbitral tribunal shall, within three working days after its formation, file with the arbitration association the names of the parties, the place of arbitration, the composition of the arbitral tribunal, and the arbitration rules.

Where a party applies for property preservation, evidence preservation, requests an order for the other party to perform certain acts or prohibit the other party from performing certain acts, the arbitral tribunal shall submit the party's application to the people's court according to law, and the people's court shall handle it in a timely manner according to law.

Article 83  Where a party submits evidence to prove that a foreign-related arbitration award has any of the following circumstances, and the people's court, after review by a collegiate panel, verifies such circumstances, it shall rule to set aside the award:

(1) There is no arbitration agreement;

(2) The respondent did not receive notice of the appointment of arbitrators or the conduct of the arbitration procedure, or was unable to present his or her case for reasons not attributable to the respondent;

(3) The composition of the arbitral tribunal or the arbitration procedure does not conform to the arbitration rules;

(4) The matters awarded are not within the scope of the arbitration agreement or the arbitration institution has no authority to arbitrate.

Where the people's court finds that the award violates public interests, it shall rule to set aside the award.

Article 84  Where the respondent submits evidence to prove that a foreign-related arbitration award has any of the circumstances specified in Paragraph 1 of Article 83 of this Law, and the people's court, after review by a collegiate panel, verifies such circumstances, it shall rule not to enforce the award.

Where the people's court finds that enforcement of the award violates public interests, it shall rule not to enforce the award.

Article 85  Where an arbitration award rendered within the territory of the People's Republic of China has taken legal effect, and the party requests enforcement, if the person subject to enforcement or his or her property is not within the territory of the People's Republic of China, the party may directly apply to the competent foreign court for recognition and enforcement.

Article 86  The State shall support arbitration institutions in establishing business institutions outside the territory of the People's Republic of China to conduct arbitration activities.

According to the needs of economic and social development and reform and opening-up, foreign arbitration institutions may, in accordance with relevant State regulations, be permitted to establish business institutions in free trade pilot zones, Hainan Free Trade Port, and other areas approved by the State Council to conduct foreign-related arbitration activities.

Article 87  Parties to foreign-related arbitration are encouraged to choose arbitration institutions of the People's Republic of China (including special administrative regions), and to agree to conduct arbitration in the People's Republic of China (including special administrative regions).

Article 88  Where an arbitration award rendered outside the territory of the People's Republic of China has taken legal effect and needs to be recognized and enforced by the people's court, the party may directly apply to the intermediate people's court at the domicile of the person subject to enforcement or the place where his or her property is located. Where the domicile of the person subject to enforcement or the place where his or her property is located is not within the territory of the People's Republic of China, the party may apply to the intermediate people's court at the domicile of the applicant or at a place with an appropriate connection to the dispute. The people's court shall handle the matter in accordance with international treaties concluded or acceded to by the People's Republic of China, or on the basis of reciprocity.

Where a foreign arbitration institution imposes restrictions or discrimination on the lawful rights and interests of citizens, legal persons, and other organizations of the People's Republic of China, the relevant institutions of the People's Republic of China shall have the right to apply the principle of reciprocity to the citizens, enterprises, and other organizations of that country.

Chapter 8 Supplementary Provisions

Article 89  The term "arbitration institution" as used in this Law includes arbitration commissions, arbitration courts, and other institutions established according to law.

Article 90  Where the law provides for the limitation period for arbitration, such provisions shall apply; where there are no such provisions, the provisions on the limitation period for litigation shall apply.

Article 91  Arbitration institutions may, in accordance with this Law and the relevant provisions of the "Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China," formulate arbitration rules with reference to the model arbitration rules formulated by the China Arbitration Association.

Article 92  The parties shall pay arbitration fees in accordance with the provisions.

Arbitration institutions shall, in accordance with relevant State regulations, formulate measures for the collection of arbitration fees.

Article 93  Labor dispute arbitration, rural land contract management dispute arbitration, sports arbitration, and other matters shall be governed by the relevant provisions of the "Labor Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Law of the People's Republic of China," "Rural Land Contract Management Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Law of the People's Republic of China," "Sports Law of the People's Republic of China," and other relevant laws.

Article 94  Arbitration institutions and arbitral tribunals may, in accordance with relevant international investment treaties and agreements regarding the submission of investment disputes to arbitration, handle international investment arbitration cases according to the arbitration rules agreed upon by the parties to the dispute.

Article 95  Violations of the registration and administration provisions for arbitration institutions shall be handled in accordance with relevant laws and administrative regulations.

Article 96  This Law shall take effect as of March 1, 2026.