The Third Council of the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (SCIA) inauguration ceremony took place at the SCIA Tower in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, on March 1 2024.

Roberto Azevedo, former Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and William Blair, former High Court Judge in England and Wales, accepted the invitation extended by the Shenzhen government to join the SCIA council, thereby endorsing China's endeavors to foster an international business environment and promote high-level institutional openness.

Azevedo's tenure as director-general of the WTO, spanning from 2013 to 2020, underscores his role as a leading advocate for economic globalization and a staunch defender of the multilateral trading system. Blair's extensive experience includes serving as the president of the Board of Appeal of the European Supervisory Authorities, chair of the Bank of England's Enforcement Decision Making Committee (EDMC), member in London's Financial Markets Law Committee, chairman of the International Monetary Law Committee of the International Law Association and judge at the Qatar International Court.

In a landmark move, the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone enacted the world's first legislation targeting a specific arbitration institution, the SCIA, aiming to bolster the confidence of both domestic and international parties in China's market-oriented, rule-of-law-based and internationalized business environment.

This legislation reformed the legal structure of the SCIA, establishing a corporate governance mechanism centered around an internationalized council. The legislation stipulates that over one-third of the council members should come from overseas. The council exercises decision-making and supervisory powers in accordance with statutory procedures, and an open institutional arrangement is implemented to prevent potential local protection, administrative intervention, and internal control by individuals, thus pioneering the "Shenzhen Model"for the governance of international arbitration institutions in China.

Following the inauguration ceremony, the sixth meeting of the Third Council of the SCIA convened at the SCIA Tower. Among the attendees were council members Shen Sibao, Anthony Neoh, Liu Xiaochun, Roberto Azevedo, William Blair, Guo Xiaohui, Huang Xianhui, Huang Yaying, Jiang Xiaowen, Elsie Leung, Liu Chunhua, Peter Malanczuk, Kwai Huen Wong and Zhao Hong (listed in alphabetical order by last name).

Group photo was captured during the inauguration ceremony of the Third Council of the SCIA.

Roberto Azevedo and William Blair received their appointment letters during the event.

Group photo of members at the sixth meeting of the Third Council of the SCIA