Chongqing - The 7th China-ASEAN Legal Cooperation Forum opened in Chongqing on November 21, bringing together over 300 guests from ASEAN legislative, judicial, and government legal bodies, as well as leaders from academia, the legal profession, business circles, and provincial law societies. Guests from ASEAN countries including Thailand, Laos, Indonesia and Philippines participated. 

The forum featured keynote speeches and three sub-forums: China-ASEAN Law School Deans' Forum, International Commercial Arbitration Forum on the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC), and China-ASEAN Forum on Governance of Cross-border Crimes. Discussions centered on legal education, commercial arbitration, and the governance of cross-border crime, with the aim of consolidating legal frameworks critical for regional development.

The 7th China-ASEAN Legal Cooperation Forum opened in Chongqing on November 21. (Photo/Chen Zhan)

ASEAN leaders: legal cooperation is key to regional trade

At the opening ceremony, ASEAN leaders underscored the growing importance of legal collaboration amid geopolitical volatility and rising economic interdependence. Borwornsak Uwanno, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, stressed that legal cooperation is vital to supporting regional economic integration. As cross-border economic activities continue to grow, the legal frameworks must evolve, particularly in investment protection, intellectual property, digital trade, and data management, so that businesses can operate with clarity and stability.

Viengthong Siphandone, Secretary of the Secretariat of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President of the Lao Supreme People's Court, noted that the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 Upgrade Agreement responds to member states’ needs for greater openness and trade liberalization. The agreement advances the free flow of goods, services, and capital while promoting transparent and mutually beneficial trade rules.

Suharto, S.H., M.Hum, Vice Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Indonesia, said that the agreement’s new chapter on the green economy aligns with Indonesia's goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2060 and developing an integrated electric vehicle supply chain. The framework opens access to China's green technologies and investment in renewable energy and mineral processing.

Beyond government leaders, ASEAN delegates shared additional perspectives with Bridging News. Lamphong Volady, Deputy Director General of Bilateral Parliamentary Relations Department of the National Assembly of Laos, expressed strong confidence in the future of China–ASEAN legal cooperation. Legal collaboration, he said, is fundamental to regional trade and connectivity. He underscored the long-standing ties between Laos and China as "good neighbors, good friends, good comrades, and good partners," and noted that regular training programs in China—particularly in Chongqing—have enabled Lao officials to gain a deeper understanding of China's legal system and better facilitate business cooperation.

Dian Noviyanti, Secretary of Chairman of Civil Chamber of the Supreme Court of Indonesia, stressed the value of judicial training and academic exchanges. She hopes to see the bilateral academic program expanded, particularly in areas such as international law, intellectual property, patent systems and digital-economy regulation, fields where Indonesia's fast-growing digital sector faces increasing legal challenges.

Martin Victorino S. Cusi, partner at Velasco Cusi Vergara Law Offices in the Philippines, said the forum provided meaningful insight into China's commercial legal system, especially in cross-border dispute resolution and corporate regulation. He sees strong potential for cooperation in commercial arbitration and compliance, adding that clearer legal standards and closer institutional collaboration will allow investments to flow more easily across the region.

ASEAN delegates gathered in Chongqing to discuss legal cooperation. (Photo/Chen Zhan)

Publications unveil fresh tools for China–ASEAN legal ties

During the forum, the China-ASEAN Legal Research Center and Southwest University of Political Science and Law signed cooperation agreements with ASEAN partners. Several major publications were also released, including a collection of key ASEAN laws, a practical guide to international commercial arbitration in ASEAN countries, and a set of legal service cases related to the ILSTC.

For example, Compilation Series of Fundamental Laws of ASEAN Countries covers constitutions, investment laws, civil and commercial laws, labor and environmental laws, dispute resolution mechanisms and other foundational legal structures. As the first systematic Chinese-language translation of ASEAN countries' basic laws, it provides an authoritative reference for governments, businesses and legal researchers, helping address compliance challenges faced by Chinese enterprises investing in ASEAN markets.

Another publication, A Practical Guide to International Commercial Arbitration in ASEAN Countries is the region's first comprehensive, country-specific arbitration practice guide. Filling a longstanding gap in accessible arbitration resources, the publication is designed to help businesses identify and mitigate legal risks in cross-border trade, while also supporting efforts to strengthen China–ASEAN cooperation in arbitration mechanisms, legal services and commercial dispute resolution.

Furthermore, the Chongqing Court of International Commercial Arbitration signed cooperation agreements with five overseas arbitration institutions from Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. Under the agreements, the parties will jointly establish a talent training base, conduct personnel exchanges for practical training, recommend arbitrators to one another, and deepen collaboration in international arbitration and professional exchanges.

Since its launch, the China-ASEAN Legal Cooperation Forum has attracted steady participation from ASEAN governments, international organizations, and legal experts, enabling over 20 cross-border cooperation agreements and issuing legal practice guidelines that support foreign investment—driving progress in both legal theory and practice.