A New Chapter in Mediation: Singapore and Shanghai Deepen Cross-Border Commercial Mediation Cooperation to Build Asia's Premier Dispute Resolution Hub

Group photo of attendees and speakers taken at the event.

On 26 May 2026, the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) and the Shanghai CCPIT Commercial Mediation Centre (Shanghai CCPIT Mediation Centre) jointly hosted a Mock Commercial Mediation and Roundtable Discussion on the Implementation of China's Commercial Mediation Law and Cross-border Cooperation at the Shanghai International Dispute Resolution Centre.

The event brought together more than 100 distinguished representatives from the judicial, commercial mediation, international legal, and cross-border business communities of Singapore and China. Drawing upon the Singapore Convention on Mediation and China's newly enacted Commercial Mediation Law, participants explored new avenues for bilateral collaboration in commercial mediation and reaffirmed their shared commitment to building an efficient, professional, and trusted framework for resolving cross-border commercial disputes.

The event was supported by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), the Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (Shanghai International Arbitration Centre), and the Shanghai Foreign Investment Association, with Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP, Allen & Gledhill LLP, and Guantao Law Firm (Shanghai Office) serving as co-organisers. The strong multi-party collaboration reflected Singapore's longstanding expertise in international commercial mediation and the solid legal cooperation between Singapore and Shanghai.

Minister Edwin Tong SC, Singapore's Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs, the Guest-of-Honour giving the opening address.

Strengthening Collaboration to Advance an Asian Mediation Solution

The event also welcomed Li Dong, Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (Shanghai), who delivered the welcome address. Senior representatives including Lin Xiaonie, Vice President of the Shanghai High People's Court, and Zhou Cheng, Deputy Director-General of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Justice, also delivered keynote speeches.

Chairman Li praised the longstanding cooperation between SIMC and the Shanghai CCPIT Commercial Mediation Centre. Under the framework of the Singapore-Shanghai Comprehensive Cooperation Council, both institutions have successfully promoted the alignment of rules, exchange of best practices, resource sharing, and joint business development, providing stronger legal support for enterprises engaged in cross-border business. Looking ahead, he expressed confidence that legal cooperation between Singapore and Shanghai would continue to deepen through more comprehensive, institutionalised, and long-term collaboration. 

 

(From left to right) Mock Mediation set up, followed by commentary for the Mock Mediation.

Session 1: Mock Mediation

This mock mediation of a cross-border intellectual property dispute, showcases the unique advantages of mediation compared with litigation and arbitration. 

The simulation was mediated by Qiu Jianxiong, Head of Rajah & Tann Singapore's Shenzhen Office. The parties and counsel were portrayed by: 

• Zhou Ying, Regional Legal & Compliance Director (North Asia Pacific), SIG Group
• Liu Siyu, Partner, DeHeng Law Offices
• Yao Xiaofei, Legal Counsel, China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd.
• Jiang Yanyi, Partner, Allen & Gledhill LLP 

The exercise realistically illustrated every stage of a cross-border IP mediation—from presenting commercial interests and facilitating negotiations to identifying mutually beneficial solutions. 

Following the demonstration, SIMC Chief Executive Officer Chuan Wee Meng provided commentary, offering practical insights into the mediation process and highlighting the operational logic and strategic value of cross-border commercial mediation. 

Notably, Qiu Jianxiong, Zhou Ying,  Liu Siyu, and Yao Xiaofei are all SIMC-accredited mediators in China. Having completed professional mediation training, they shared their appreciation of mediation's core principles of equality, confidentiality, and non-adversarial problem-solving. 

Rather than focusing on determining winners and losers, mediation seeks to balance commercial interests, preserve long-term business relationships, bridge legal and cultural differences, and enable businesses to resolve disputes efficiently and cost-effectively. 

 

 

The panelist, now joined by SIMC Chairman, George Lim SC, as they discussed the impact of mediation, China's involvements and the difficulties they face. 

Session 2: Roundtable 

The mock mediation was followed by a high-level roundtable discussion chaired by SIMC Chairman Mr George Lim SC, who was joined by the mediation participants. The discussion focused on: 

• emerging developments in international mediation;
• the implementation of China's Commercial Mediation Law;
• practical challenges in managing cross-border commercial disputes. 

The panellists agreed that one of mediation's greatest strengths lies in empowering parties to retain control over dispute outcomes, making it particularly well suited to businesses that value long-term partnerships and cost-effective dispute resolution. 

They also acknowledged that wider adoption continues to face challenges, including limited public awareness and concerns regarding the enforceability of mediated settlement agreements. Drawing on Singapore's extensive experience, participants recommended closer collaboration between institutions, customised services for different business sectors, and stronger supporting mechanisms to further promote commercial mediation. 

As moderator of the session, Chuan Wee Meng observed that commercial mediation plays a vital role in supporting sustainable cross-border trade and investment. Given the close economic ties between Singapore and Shanghai, together with their shared commitment to mediation, both jurisdictions are naturally well positioned for deeper cooperation.