Commercial Mediation in Mainland China: Pitfalls & Opportunities

This article offers insight into the practice of Chinese mediation, especially in resolving commercial disputes, considering the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation (the Singapore Convention) entered into force on September 12, 2020. First, this article evaluates the attractiveness, vulnerabilities, and popularity of mediation as a means of dispute resolution. The article then introduces the Chinese model of using mediation to resolve commercial disputes, specifically in judicial and arbitral proceedings. Based on empirical data and rules analysis, this article concludes with the benefits of using mediation in China to resolve disputes and exposes a discrepancy between the Chinese perception of mediation and prevailing international practice.

This article illustrates highlights of the Singapore Convention and elaborates on its possible impacts on the Chinese market.