Foreign-related legal services grow rapidly in Guangxi

Foreign-related legal services have been developing rapidly in Southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region in recent years with a priority on member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Going abroad

Ever since Guangxi Weiguan became the first law firm in the region to set up a foreign branch office in 2017, seven law firms in Guangxi have set up their own overseas branches and several other law firms have established overseas liaison offices. In addition, state-owned enterprises in Guangxi have hired about 200 local lawyers as their legal counsels during their overseas expansion.

In 2019, the judicial department of Guangxi launched a platform to help local law firms better understand the laws and policies of ASEAN countries on foreign investment. The region's lawyers association also set aside special funds to subsidize each local law firm with an overseas branch with 100,000 yuan ($15,690).

Advancing foreign-related rule of law

As one of its major steps in promoting foreign-related rule of law, Guangxi's judicial department contributed to the release of a regulation on the construction of the China (Guangxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) which covers issues ranging from management systems to the construction of the Belt and Road.

To meet the FTZ's huge demand for legal services, Guangxi has also directed legal resources such as notarization, arbitration and lawyers to the zone with the purpose of effectively resolving disputes and improving its business environment.

As a border region, Guangxi has made great efforts to promote foreign-related rule of law at such sites as border ports, venues for border trade, and industrial parks.

It also established a legal service station committed to legal disputes between parties from China and Vietnam.

Since 2020, the region has concluded 596 foreign-related legal aid cases, 35,416 foreign-related notarization cases, and 497 foreign-related forensic science cases.

Promoting foreign exchange

To fuel the Belt and Road construction with high-quality foreign-related legal services, Guangxi's judicial department has promulgated plans and guidelines for cultivating local lawyers specializing in handling foreign-related legal affairs.

The region's judicial administration system has also been constantly strengthening its ties with ASEAN countries and those along the Belt and Road in order to better promote foreign-related rule of law.