The Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) has officially opened its Beijing Representative Office, becoming the first offshore arbitration institution to establish a presence in the Chinese capital.

The move marks a significant milestone for HKIAC and reflects the growing internationalization of Beijing's arbitration scene. This is HKIAC's second office in mainland China, following the opening of its Shanghai representative office in 2015.

The Beijing office will support HKIAC's capacity-building initiatives, deliver training programs, and promote exchanges with China's arbitration community. It will also provide facilities to support HKIAC's dispute resolution services as permitted under local laws.

In a press release, the HKIAC reiterated its strong track record in handling China-related cases. In the past five years, parties from nearly 100 jurisdictions have submitted cases to HKIAC, with around 78 percent being international in nature and approximately 40 percent involving a mainland Chinese party.

It added that the institution's governance structure includes four leading practitioners from mainland China on its Council, alongside six from Hong Kong and 19 from other jurisdictions. At the Secretariat level, over half of the counsel team can manage cases in both English and Chinese.

The establishment of the Beijing office follows HKIAC's inclusion in 2022 in the Supreme People's Court's platform for international commercial dispute resolution, providing parties with more direct access to interim measures and enforcement in mainland China.