Published: 2026-02-10 00:00
Beijing, February 4, 2026 - The Secretariat of the International Commercial Dispute Prevention and Settlement Organization (ICDPASO) held a liaison meeting with the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa (AFSA) to advance bilateral cooperation and strengthen legal services liaison. Mr. Des Williams, Acting Chairman of AFSA, and Adv Svetlana Vasileva, Secretary-General of AFSA, attended the meeting and engaged in in-depth exchanges.
During the meeting, Secretary-General Mr. Jason CHIA introduced the latest progress of ICDPASO in brand events and expert pool development. AFSA representatives expressed high appreciation for the strides made by ICDPASO. Both sides conducted thorough discussions on potential collaboration, including co-hosting international seminars and nurturing legal professionals.
This meeting could not have been more timely, as 2026 marks the 70th anniversary of the formal establishment of diplomatic ties between the People’s Republic of China and Africa, a pivotal moment for both sides to join hands in pursuit of modernization. Standing at this new historic starting point, the two parties reached a unanimous consensus. They are committed to taking this meeting as a springboard to further deepen practical cooperation, deliver premium services and robust safeguards for China-Africa cross-border trade, economic exchanges and legal cooperation, and work together to foster a stable, fair, transparent and predictable international business environment.
Founded in 1996 by South Africa’s legal, business and accounting sectors, AFSA delivers private dispute resolution, trains practitioners and leads Africa’s arbitration field. It co-launched CAJAC in 2015, with its 2017 National Act cementing its continental leadership.
Amid global volatility and rapid global changes, ICDPASO and AFSA will draw on the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, stand together on the modernization journey, and uphold justice in a volatile world. We will advance South-South development cooperation through practical commercial dispute resolution collaboration, and contribute to improving the international commercial governance framework and building a community with a shared future for humanity.
