Laws and Regulations

 

National

 

1. China Extends Unilateral Visa-free Policy

[Keywords: France, Sweden]

 

To further facilitate cross border travel between Chinese and foreign nationals, China has decided to extend its unilateral visa-free policy for countries including France until 24:00 on December 31, 2026. In addition, China will grant visa-free entry to Swedish citizens from November 10, 2025, to December 31, 2026.

 

Source: International Services Shanghai

https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Latest-WhatsNew/20251103/75cdfebfd0d04bfb8a867772146b9afc.html

 

2. NIA Introduces Ten Innovative Measures to Support Expansion of Opening-up and Serve the High-quality Development

[Keywords: Expansion of opening-up]

 

Recently, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) issued an announcement to implement ten innovative measures to support expansion of opening-up and serve the high-quality development of China. These measures include, inter alia, the introduction of online filing of arrival cards for foreign nationals, which will take effect on November 20, 2025.

 

Source:  NIA

 

3. Ministry of Commerce Issues Opinions to Promote Green and Low-carbon Transformation in Foreign Trade

[Keywords:  Foreign trade, Green and low-carbon]

 

Recently, the Ministry of Commerce released the Implementation Opinions on Expanding Green Trade. The document sets out 16 measures in such areas as enhancing the capacity of foreign trade enterprises for green and low-carbon development, expanding the import and export of green and low-carbon related products and technologies, fostering a sound international environment for the development of green trade, and improving the support and safeguard system for green trade.

 

Source: Ministry of Commerce

https://www.mofcom.gov.cn/zcfb/dwmygl/art/2025/art_93d8c16b4f194913848b475e0a261d6c.html

 

4. NIA and CAC Jointly Launch “SinoGuide” Information Service App for Foreigners

[Keywords:   Information services for foreigners]

 

On November 7, at the Main Forum of the 2025 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit, the NIA and the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) jointly launched “SinoGuide”, an information service app for foreigners. Integrating policy guidance, news and information, daily life services, and language support, the app provides 31 commonly used online services in areas such as payment, transportation, healthcare, education, and information, offering bilingual Chinese and English support for foreigners coming to and living in China.

 

Source:  NIA

 

Shanghai

 

1. Implementation Measures for Energy Conservation Review and Carbon Emission Assessment of Fixed Asset Investment Projects in Shanghai Issued

[Keywords: Fixed assets, Energy conservation, Carbon emissions]

 

Recently, the Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission issued the Implementation Measures for Energy Conservation Review and Carbon Emission Assessment of Fixed Asset Investment Projects in Shanghai, with the aim of strengthening the management of energy consumption and carbon emissions in fixed asset investment projects and improving energy efficiency. The document took effect on November 1, 2025, and will remain valid through October 31, 2030.

 

Source: Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission

https://fgw.sh.gov.cn/fgw_gfxwj/20251105/d902c21dd77a4606a82c2e30866d8dbf.html

 

Q&A

 

At the State Council’s regular policy briefing on expanding green trade held by the State Council Information Office, an official from the People’s Bank of China answered a question from the press

Q

In recent years, China’s foreign trade enterprises have actively adapted to the trend of greener trade, turning green and low-carbon concepts into high quality products and enriching global supply. What are the new features and trends in the current development of green trade in China?

A

As we can all see, China’s foreign trade is moving toward “green” development at an accelerating pace, showing three notable features and trends overall.

First, green and low-carbon products have become a new driving force for the development of foreign trade. International institutions project that by 2030, the global market for products and technologies such as electric vehicles, solar power, and wind power will reach 2.1 trillion US dollars, five times its current size, with broad prospects for growth. In recent years, China’s exports of green and low-carbon related products have performed remarkably well. For example, in the first three quarters of this year, exports of wind power generating sets and parts grew by more than 30%; the export value of photovoltaic products has exceeded RMB 200 billion for four consecutive years; the export volume of electric vehicles surpassed 2 million units for the first time last year; and the exports of green transport equipment such as electric railway locomotives, electric motorcycles, and bicycles have also maintained robust growth. It is particularly worth noting that China’s energy-saving and environmentally friendly home appliances, as well as textile and apparel products made from regenerated fibers, and other green products are widely welcomed in the international market. All these indicate that green trade has provided strong support for maintaining the scale and improving the structure of China’s foreign trade. 

Second, green development is driving a comprehensive upgrade of foreign trade’s production and supply chains. In recent years, China’s progress in green and low-carbon foreign trade has been remarkable, reflected not only in the upgrading of products but also in the deep transformation of the entire production and supply system. On the research and development side, more enterprises are integrating green concepts into product design. For example, according to our survey, at the ongoing 138th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair), 47% of the debut new products feature green design concepts. On the production side, enterprises are continuously innovating in areas such as raw materials, energy use, and manufacturing processes to enhance the green and low-carbon attributes of their products. For instance, some companies are producing swimwear made from recycled ocean fishing nets, which has become highly popular among overseas customers. On the logistics side, more clean-energy vehicles and vessels are being used in foreign trade transportation, leading to a steady reduction in carbon emissions. These are vivid examples of the green transformation of China’s foreign trade production and supply chains. 

Third, China’s green trade is evolving from “selling products” to “providing integrated solutions”. Today, the international market values not only China’s high-quality green products but also the complete packages of technologies, services, and management expertise that come with them. For example, a Chinese company exported green and low-carbon building materials to Saudi Arabia while providing a comprehensive energy-saving and carbon-reduction design and construction solution, helping Saudi Arabia complete a 300,000 square meter urban complex. Another Chinese enterprise delivered a complete Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) solution, including new energy buses, to Tanzania, significantly improving the commuting efficiency in local cities. These transformations vividly demonstrate China’s competitiveness in green trade.

Looking ahead, China will continue to align with the global trend of green and low-carbon development, further strengthening and enhancing its capacity to serve the world through green trade, and sharing the benefits of green and low-carbon growth more widely with the international community.

 

Source: State Council Information Office

http://www.scio.gov.cn/live/2025/37628/index.html

 

Expert Perspective

 

A Quick Comment on the 2025 Arbitration Law — Steady Progress with Promising Prospects

 

By He Junming (Shanghai United Law Firm)

 

[Continued from the Previous Issue]

II. Standardization of China’s Commercial Arbitration Sector from Multiple Perspectives

4.  The 2025 Arbitration Law mandates information disclosure to enhance institutional transparency.

Article 19 of the 2025 Arbitration Law stipulates that arbitration institutions shall establish an “information disclosure system” to proactively release information closely related to their operation and development, such as their charters, fee schedules, and annual financial reports, and shall actively accept public oversight. This requirement to increase transparency reflects China’s response to the long-standing global trend toward greater openness in arbitration.

Given that the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration has, in accordance with Article 35 of the Regulations of the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration, consistently made its financial budgets, final accounts, service procedures, and fee schedules publicly available on its official website for public access and supervision, it has earned greater social recognition and trust. It is reasonable to believe that as these transparency requirements are fully implemented, China’s arbitration institutions will perform increasingly well in influential publications and surveys in the field of international arbitration, including the 2025 International Arbitration Survey jointly released by White & Case and the School of International Arbitration at Queen Mary University of London, and that the international credibility of Chinese arbitration will be further enhanced.

III. Advancement of Equal Treatment for Commercial Arbitration and Commercial Litigation

1. Aligning preservation measures in arbitration with those in litigation to ensure equal treatment of commercial arbitration and commercial litigation

Through provisions such as Articles 39, 58, 79, and 82, the 2025 Arbitration Law incorporates into arbitration the three types of preservation measures that already exist in the court system, namely, property preservation, evidence preservation, and conduct preservation. This brings about parity between commercial arbitration and commercial litigation in terms of the types of interim measures available. As Mr. Mao Huigang has aptly summarized in his article, “after the implementation of the revised Arbitration Law, preservation in arbitration cases can be said to enjoy full process and full spectrum judicial protection in China.”

In addition, the 2025 Arbitration Law reiterates on multiple occasions that “the people’s courts shall handle matters in a timely manner in accordance with the law.” This demonstrates that the legislature is fully aware that in past judicial practice some courts may have held an inappropriate perception that preservation measures related to litigation should be given priority over those related to arbitration.

2.  Giving full effect to tribunal centeredness and granting arbitral tribunals greater powers of investigation and decision making

The 2025 Arbitration Law takes respect for arbitral tribunals to a new level. For a long time, in China’s judicial practice, arbitral tribunals have, to some extent, enjoyed weaker powers than courts. Article 31 of the 2025 Arbitration Law explicitly adopts the competence-competence principle, granting the arbitral tribunal, rather than merely the arbitration institution, the authority to determine the validity of an arbitration agreement. At the same time, Article 55 empowers the arbitral tribunal to request assistance from relevant parties in the collection of evidence in a manner similar to a court.

[To be Continued]

 

One Week in Shanghai

 

Latest News

 

1.Shanghai Courts Launch Cooperation Mechanism to Foster a Law-based Business Environment

[Keywords: Law-based governance, Business environment]

 

Recently, the Shanghai High People’s Court and five other authorities jointly signed the Memorandum on Establishing a Cooperation Mechanism to Promote the Development of a Law-based Business Environment in Shanghai Courts. The mechanism is designed to systematically study, plan, and promote the resolution of major issues in building a law-based business environment in Shanghai, and to help enhance the level of law-based business environment of Shanghai’s courts.

 

Source: Shanghai High People’s Court

 

2.Pudong New Area People’s Court Releases White Paper on Commercial Trials Involving Foreign-funded Enterprises

[Keywords: Foreign investment]

 

Recently, the Pudong New Area People’s Court released the White Paper on Commercial Trials Involving Foreign-funded Enterprises (2020–2024). According to the white paper, cases involving foreign-funded enterprises accepted by the court show several notable characteristics, including a growing proportion of foreign capital in the parties to the disputes, continuous expansion of investment sectors, as well as increasingly diverse forms of service trade disputes and more complex matters in contention.

 

Source: Shanghai Pudong People’s Court

 

Corporate Activities

 

1.Beckers Group Opens New R&D Center in Shanghai

[Keywords: Beckers]

 

Recently, Beckers Group officially put a new R&D center into operation in Shanghai’s Songjiang District. Equipped with advanced laboratory infrastructure, the new center will focus on research for both coil coating and industrial coating applications, while also providing dedicated space for customer collaboration and for the development of Radcure radiation curing technologies.

 

Source: Becker

 

Competitive Event

 

1.2025 China Squash Open to Swing into Action in Shanghai This November

[Keywords: China Squash Open]

The 2025 China Squash Open will be held in Shanghai from November 11 to 16. This year, as part of the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Squash Tour, the event has been upgraded from Silver-level to Gold-level.

 

Source: International Services Shanghai

https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Events/20251004/7abfda52b78a449083dad03ef992c1d6.html

 

2.2025 China iQFOiL Master International Tournament Set to Begin

[Keywords: China iQFOiL Master International Tournament]

 

The 2025 China iQFOiL Master International Tournament will be held on Yuandang Lake in Jinze Town, Qingpu District, Shanghai, from November 13 to 17. This event has been officially approved by World Sailing as an Olympic-level 50-point event and included in its annual calendar, further elevating the level and profile of the regatta.

 

Source: International Services Shanghai

https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-SportsEvents/20251010/ee248dfba3e84593a5e8f0ef314d7ed0.html

 

Culture & Art

 

1.The 7th Shanghai International Artwork Trade Week to Open in November 

[Keywords: Shanghai International Artwork Trade Week]

From November 13 to 17, the 7th Shanghai International Artwork Trade Week will be held in Shanghai. With the theme “Global Art in Shanghai • Living with Art”, this year’s edition will feature more than one hundred art events, including art fairs, auctions of cultural relics and artworks, as well as exhibitions in galleries and museums.

 

Source: Pudong Release

 

2.2025 Inaugural International Jewelry Fashion Theme Month Kicks Off

[Keywords: International Jewelry Fashion Theme Month]

 

Recently, the 2025 Inaugural International Jewelry Fashion Theme Month officially opened. During the event, a series of high-end exhibitions, industry forums, premium salons, and themed consumer promotion activities will be launched in succession, creating new and immersive consumption scenarios for jewelry and fashion.

 

Source: Shanghai Commerce

 

3.“Roma: From Olympus to Capitoline” Grand Exhibition Opens

[Keyword: Roma]

On November 11, the exhibition “Roma: From Olympus to Capitoline” will open at Shanghai's World Expo Museum. The exhibition features 131 ancient treasures from National Museums Liverpool in the United Kingdom, presented through three sections, i.e., “Legends of the Gods”, “Glory of the Empire”, and “Feast of Life”. It showcases the vivid artistry of Roman sculpture, offering a lively interpretation of ancient Romans’ beliefs, imperial achievements, and daily life, and guiding visitors toward a deeper understanding of the spiritual essence and enduring legacy of ancient Roman civilization.

 

Source: International Services Shanghai

https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-ArtExhibitions/20251028/09470859d2dc48cf9a6f669a6191184a.html

 

4. “1922 Comienzo: Salvador Dalí × The Bund City Hall” Exhibition Debuts

[Keyword: Dalí]

On November 11, the century-old Bund City Hall will host its first large scale solo exhibition by an international art master, “1922 Comienzo: Salvador Dalí × The Bund City Hall”. The exhibition presents more than 150 original works by Dalí, including sculptures, prints, and jewelry, many of which are being shown in China for the first time.

 

Source: Shanghai Huangpu