The Department of Justice of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, together with the Market Regulation Administration and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Guangxi Sub-council, has jointly issued the Implementation Opinions on Strengthening Arbitration Work for Intellectual Property Disputes. This new policy leverages Guangxi's geographical edge as a gateway to ASEAN and its distinctive marine economy, concentrating on areas like specialized system development, expansion of diversified dispute resolution mechanisms, and deeper cross-border collaboration, aiming to establish a forward-looking arbitration framework.

A key focus of the policy is building a specialized arbitration service system. It encourages qualified arbitration institutions to set up dedicated intellectual property arbitration courts, with platforms such as the Nanning International Arbitration Court serving as models. To address the technical complexity often found in IP cases, Guangxi will create a provincial-level expert pool for ASEAN cross-border IP arbitration, bringing together legal experts and technical appraisers from China and ASEAN nations to implement a "legal arbitrator plus technical expert" joint case-handling model. Additionally, plans are in place to strengthen the recruitment and training of arbitration secretaries and to conduct joint training sessions for arbitrators from China and ASEAN countries, cultivating a talent pool well-versed in both legal systems.

The policy also emphasizes improving diversified dispute resolution. It calls for optimizing specialized case procedures and utilizing online arbitration platforms and artificial intelligence, including bilingual service channels for Vietnamese, Lao, and Cambodian languages. New online arbitration functions will be added to existing tools like the "One-Click IP Risk Check" mini-program and the "Wei Gui" cloud platform. A database of ASEAN IP arbitration cases and regulations will be developed to provide intelligent references for decisions. The guidelines also formalize the participation of technical investigators in arbitration, promoting collaboration between national IP protection centers and arbitration bodies to integrate technical fact-finding with legal rulings. Furthermore, industry associations are encouraged to include arbitration clauses in their charters and contracts, promoting model clauses to guide market entities toward arbitration as a preferred dispute resolution method.

Serving ASEAN and supporting open cooperation is a central pillar of the policy. A multilateral cross-border arbitration network will be established through platforms like the China-ASEAN Commercial Legal Forum and the Commercial Arbitration Cooperation Center. This includes signing agreements with arbitration institutions and IP service providers in ASEAN countries to facilitate cross-border evidence collection and the recognition and enforcement of awards. Arbitration institutions will also be supported in partnering with overseas IP dispute guidance platforms, using overseas service stations to offer upfront services like risk prevention advice and customized dispute resolution plans for both Chinese enterprises going global and foreign investors coming to Guangxi. The policy further encourages Guangxi's arbitration bodies to establish branches abroad to enhance their international presence and influence.

To ensure effective implementation, a cross-departmental coordination mechanism involving judicial, market regulation, and trade promotion agencies will be established. The policy emphasizes seamless coordination between mediation and arbitration, specifying that administrative mediation agreements can apply for arbitration confirmation and enforcement. Finally, it outlines plans for building high-level theoretical research platforms focused on the marine economy and the Pinglu Canal Economic Belt, along with a mechanism for publishing typical cases. This dual focus on practical innovation and theoretical exploration is designed to advance Guangxi's IP arbitration to a new level.