Empowering International Commercial Arbitration: Guangzhou Arbitration Commission Opens Global Registration for Its Panel of Arbitrators
Guangzhou Arbitration Commission
Guangzhou, China – Recently, the Guangzhou Arbitration Commission (GZAC) opened global registration for its panel of arbitrators, seeking professionals with experience in cross-border alternative dispute resolution (ADR) across fields including, but not limited to, law, international trade, and commerce.
The registration process is conducted entirely online through the official application platform at https://zcyselect.gziac.cn, with registration open until 15 June 2026. Priority will be given to professionals with extensive experience in legal and commercial matters, maritime and admiralty, science and technology, and ADR. The Commission is specifically interested in candidates with practice qualifications across multiple jurisdictions, recognized professional reputations, substantial experience in cross-border arbitration, and fluency in at least one of the following languages: English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, or Italian. In line with the Regulations on the Construction of Guangzhou International Commercial Arbitration Center, which took effect in May 2026, GZAC will establish an internationally competitive arbitrator remuneration system, providing market-oriented compensation for foreign arbitrators in line with their professional expertise and contributions.
According to the International Arbitration Survey 2025, Guangzhou ranks among the world’s most preferred arbitration venues, while GZAC’s arbitration rules are recognised as among the most widely used globally. To date, the Commission has handled cases involving parties from 67 countries and jurisdictions, spanning international trade, cross-border investment, intellectual property, as well as maritime and commercial disputes. Its arbitral awards have been recognised and enforced by courts in multiple jurisdictions, including the United States and Malaysia.
The GZAC Governing Body consists of members from six jurisdictions, bringing together leading legal practitioners and experts from civil law and common law jurisdictions, representative Belt and Road partner states, BRICS member countries, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and Mainland China. Its executive body is led by Professor Mark Feldman, an American expert, marking the first appointment of a foreign national to head the executive of a Chinese arbitration institution.
GZAC has achieved full online operation for the entire arbitral process. The world’s first recommended standards for online arbitration have been endorsed by 102 foreign arbitral institutions and organisations. Additionally, the Commission has established the APEC Online Dispute Resolution Platform (APEC ODR Platform) and launched the London Hearing Centre at the International Dispute Resolution Centre (IDRC) in the United Kingdom. This initiative pioneers a significant arbitration model, as demonstrated by its pilot case: with Guangzhou as the place of arbitration, and London as the hearing venue, the entire process conducted online.
In 2025, GZAC received the highest number of cases in its history, with 27,000 filings, representing a total dispute value of RMB 92.1 billion. Specifically, the Commission’s international docket consisted of 877 overseas-related cases with a combined value of RMB 12.3 billion. With foreign arbitrators appointed in 610 of these proceedings, GZAC continues to strengthen its position as China’s leading hub for international disputes by volume of foreign-related cases.