This initiative was highlighted by the opening of the “Belt and Road” International Commercial Legal Services Demonstration Zone in Xi’an.
A Pakistani delegation, led by the China-Pakistan International Business Alliance, attended the signing ceremony, emphasizing the platform’s crucial role in offering legal protection and services for industrial cooperation under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The legal services zone will help manage legal differences between China, which follows a civil law system, and Pakistan, which adheres to common law traditions influenced by European and American legal frameworks, according to Gwadar Pro.
The international legal services platform will aid in resolving disputes and smoothing business transactions between the two countries.
Wang Yongxin, President of the China-Pakistan International Business Alliance, stated that the platform will support both Chinese firms in Pakistan and Pakistani businesses in China with legal assistance.
Dr. Muhammad Shahbaz, a Pakistani delegation member, noted that in the past, the absence of a unified legal standard between Pakistan and China made resolving legal disputes, such as differences in quality inspection systems, difficult.
Objectives of the Platform
The platform aims to bridge this gap by offering arbitration and mediation services recognized by both countries, particularly to address trade and export contract disputes efficiently.
A team of lawyers has been established to provide services under the commercial legal committee, covering major Pakistani cities like Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore, to create a more secure investment climate for Chinese companies involved in CPEC projects.
Furthermore, Pakistani companies operating in China will also gain from the platform’s legal services, which will help them navigate the Chinese legal system more confidently.
Also, the demonstration zone in Xi’an is expected to attract international law firms and become a hub for global legal services, extending its support to countries along the Belt and Road Initiative, including those in Central Asia and Europe.
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