BNRMC（ Almaty,Kazakhstan ）Established
On 1st July, 2019, the Almaty Office of Beijing Retio Legal and Commercial Service Center for Belt and Road Initiative & International Commercial Mediation Center for the Belt and Road (BNRMC) was officially opened in Kazakhstan. Mr. Ma Chi, the Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese Consulate General in Almaty, Mr. Greshnikov K. V., Secretary General of the IUS International Arbitration Center of Kazakhstan, and Dr. Wang Li, director of BNRMC, director and chief global partner of DeHeng Law Offices, attended the opening ceremony.
Dr. Wang Li, the representative of BNRMC, signed the Agreement on Mutual Assistance and Cooperation in the Field of Arbitration and Mediation with Mr. Greshnikov K. V., the representative of the IUS International Arbitration Center. Meantime, Dr. Wang Li awarded BNRMC mediator certificates to 12 mediators, including Mr. Greshnikov K. V. and Mr. Kalukin O.A.
Dr. Wang Li introduced the creation and operation of the BNRMC in October 2016, which was established based on the Belt and Road Service Connections (BNRSC). Since its establishment, the mediation center has accepted more than 300 commercial disputes, with a success rate of 65%. Recently, a case of med-arb was successfully mediated by Professor Zhang Yuejiao, a well-known mediator and Former Justice of the WTO Court of Appeal. In October 2018, BNRMC held a forum in Rome to issue a declaration on “the Principle of the Belt and Road in International Commercial Conciliation” (hereinafter referred to as the "Rome Declaration"). In April 2019, during the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, the BNRMC launched the Beijing Initiative, which attracted institutions in Beijing and members of the BNRSC from various countries signed and participated. The independent, neutral, international and civil nature of BNRMC has been recognized by institutions and business people in various countries.
Dr. Wang Li pointed out that Kazakhstan is the starting point of Belt and Road Initiative, and the important node for investment cooperation of Belt and Road Project. The Almaty Mediation Office of BNRMC will work closely with IUS International Arbitration Center to reduce transaction costs and risks of investments, effectively resolve disputes, and promote the development of the Belt and Road Initiative.
The IUS of Kazakhstan was established by late Prof. Peter Grishnikov, a well-known scholar of Kazakhstan. The IUS International Arbitration Center is the earliest arbitral institution of Kazakhstan and has a branch in St. Petersburg of Russia.
In accordance with the Agreement on Mutual Assistance and Cooperation in the Field of Arbitration and Mediation signed by both parties, the IUS international arbitration center will give priority to the BNRMC for mediation and settlement of china-related cases submitted for arbitration in the IUS international arbitration center. The parties of the cases shall sign a mediation agreement and sealed by BNRMC, which is legally binding to both parties. For the mediation agreement concluded under the auspices of BNRMC, the mediation center may witness and supervise its automatic performance or guarantee the performance by security deposit. The mediation center may also assist the parties to jointly apply to the IUS international arbitration center for arbitration confirmation and performance in accordance with the mediation agreement.
The signatories agreed that the promotion of a harmonious, mutually beneficial and equal mediation culture through online and offline mediation means, the promotion of a "Belt and Road" good economic order, and the recognition that arbitration and mediation are fair and effective methods for resolving disputes. After the signing of the cooperation agreement, the two sides will jointly recommend suitable experts, arbitrators and mediators to resolve economic disputes, jointly organize conferences, seminars, round tables and other research and promotion altogether on arbitration and mediation issues of mutual interest and positive experiences in the practice of arbitration and mediation, and work together to safeguard the rights and legally protected interests of economic, investment, commercial and other entities in China, Kazakhstan, the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Eurasian economic community.
The two sides agreed to promote a culture of mediation, which is harmonious, mutually, beneficial and equal, through online and offline mediations, maintain a good economic order for the Belt and Road Initiative, and approve the alternative disputes resolution on arbitration and mediation equally and effectively. After signing the aboveside agreement, the two sides will jointly recommend suitable experts, arbitrators and mediators to settle economic disputes, and organize conferences, seminars, round-tables and other promotional activities altogether on arbitration and mediation issues of mutual interest and positive experiences in the practice of arbitration and mediation, and work together to safeguard the maintenance the rights and interests of China, Kazakhstan, CIS, etc.
The two sides claimed that they will seize this opportunity to have further cooperation and build an integrated service system of investment cooperation between China and Kazakhstan. They will continuously synergize China's "One Belt and One Road" vision with Kazakhstan's "Bright Road" new economic policy. Beijing Retio Legal and Commercial Service Center for Belt and Road Initiative will cooperate with IUS International Arbitration Center to provide more effective legal protection for Chinese enterprises going abroad.
