Interpretation Regarding Certain Issues Relating to the Application of the "People's Republic of China Arbitration Law" (CECC Full Translation)

The following is a translation prepared by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China of the "Interpretation Regarding Certain Issues Relating to the Application of the 'People's Republic of China Arbitration Law'" issued by the Supreme People's Court on August 23, 2006. The Chinese text was retrieved from the Supreme People's Court Web site on September 13, 2006.

The "Interpretation Regarding Certain Issues Relating to the Application of the 'People's Republic of China Arbitration Law'" was passed at the 1,357th meeting of the Supreme People's Court's Adjudication Committee, is hereby promulgated, and shall be effective beginning September 8, 2006.

August 23, 2006

In accordance with the People's Republic of China Arbitration Law and the People's Republic of China Civil Procedure Law and other laws and regulations, the following interpretation is made with respect to certain issues regarding the law to be used in people's court's adjudications relating to arbitration cases:

Article 1. The provision of Article 16 of the Arbitration Law regarding "any other written form" of arbitration agreement includes such forms of agreements of submission to arbitration as contracts, letters, and electronic data (including telegrams, telexes, faxes, electronic data exchanges, and e-mails).

Article 2. Where the parties generally agree contractual disputes shall be matters for arbitration, any disputes arising on the basis of a contract's formation, effectiveness, modification, assignment, performance, liability for breach of contract, interpretation, or termination may be deemed matters for arbitration.

Article 3. Where the name of the arbitration institution agreed upon in the arbitration agreement is not clear, but it is possible to determine the specific arbitration institution, it should be deemed the chosen arbitration institution.

Article 4. Where an arbitration agreement has only agreed upon the arbitration rules to be utilized in a dispute, they shall not be deemed to have agreed upon an arbitration institution, except where the parties have reached a supplementary agreement or where it is possible to determine the arbitration institution on the basis of the agreed upon arbitration rules.

Article 5. Where an arbitration agreement agrees to two or more arbitration institutions, the parties may agree to choose to apply for arbitration to one of these arbitration organizations. Where the parties are unable to reach a unanimous agreement to choose an arbitration institution, then the arbitration agreement shall be invalid.

Article 6. Where an arbitration agreement agrees upon a certain locations' arbitration institution and that location only has one arbitration institution, that arbitration institution shall be deemed the agreed upon arbitration institution. If the location has two or more arbitration institutions, the parties may agree to choose to apply for arbitration to one of these arbitration organizations. Where the parties cannot reach a unanimous agreement to choose an arbitration institution, then the arbitration agreement shall be without effect.

Article 7. Where the parties agree that disputes may be subject to application for arbitration to an arbitration institution and may also be subject to filing a complaint with a people's court, the arbitration agreement shall be without effect, except where one party applies to an arbitration institution for arbitration and another party fails to raise an objection within the time period provided in Clause 2 of Article 20 of the Arbitration Law.

Article 8. Where a party merges or divides after concluding an arbitration agreement, the arbitration agreement shall be effective with respect to those successors who inherit its rights and obligations.

If a party dies after concluding an arbitration agreement, the arbitration agreement shall be effective with respect to those heirs who succeed to the arbitral matters' rights and obligations.

The situations stipulated by the preceding two clauses shall not apply where the parties have otherwise stipulated at the time the arbitration agreement is concluded.

Article 9. Where rights and obligations have been fully or partially assigned, the arbitration agreement shall be effective as regards the assignee, except where the parties have otherwise stipulated or where at the time of the assignment of rights and obligations the assignee clearly objected or was not aware a unilateral arbitration agreement existed.

Article 10. If a contract does not become effective or is revoked after it is formed, the effectiveness of the arbitration agreement shall be determined using the provisions of Clause 1 of Article 19 of the Arbitration Law.

Where parties dispute that an arbitration agreement was reached at the time a contract is concluded, that a contract was not formed shall not affect the effectiveness of the arbitration agreement.

Article 11. Where a contract agrees to resolve disputes using the effective arbitration provisions in another contract or document, if a contractual dispute arises the parties shall submit to arbitration in accordance with those arbitration provisions.

Foreign-related contracts shall use the arbitration rules of the relevant international convention, and when a contractual dispute arises the parties shall submit to arbitration in accordance with the arbitration rules of that international convention.

Article 12. Where parties apply to a people's court to determine the effectiveness of an arbitration agreement, the intermediate people's court in the place where the arbitration institution agreed upon in the arbitration agreement shall have jurisdiction. Where the arbitration institution agreed upon in the arbitration agreement is unclear, the intermediate people's court in the place where the arbitration agreement was signed shall have jurisdiction.

Cases where there is an application to affirm the validity of a foreign-related arbitration agreement shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the intermediate people's court located in the place where the arbitration institution agreed upon in the arbitration agreement is located, where the arbitration agreement was signed, or where the applicant or the person against whom the application is being sought resides.

Cases relating to the validity of an arbitration agreement in disputes involving maritime issues shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the maritime court located in the place where the arbitration institution agreed upon in the arbitration agreement is located, where the arbitration agreement was signed, or where the applicant or the person against whom the application is being sought resides. Where the aforementioned place does not have a maritime court, a nearby maritime court shall have jurisdiction.

Article 13. According to the provisions of Clause 2 of Article 20 of the Arbitration Law, if parties do not challenge the validity of the arbitration agreement prior to the first hearing of the arbitration tribunal and subsequently apply to a people's court to determine that the arbitration agreement is invalid, the people's court shall not accept the application.

Where after an arbitration institution has made a determination regarding the validity of an arbitration agreement, a party applies to a people's court to determine the validity of the arbitration agreement or applies to set aside the arbitration institution’s decision, a people's court shall not accept the application.

Article 14. The "initial commencement of proceedings" stipulated in Article 26 of the Arbitration Law refers to the first hearing organized by a people's court following the response period, and does not include any activities relating to pre-trial procedures.

Article 15. In cases of people's court hearings to determine the validity of an arbitration agreement, a collegial panel shall be convened to carry out an investigation, and this panel shall formally question the parties.

Article 16. With respect to investigations of the validity of foreign-related arbitration agreements, the law agreed to by the parties shall be used. If parties have not agreed upon the law to be used but have agreed upon the location of the arbitration, the law of the place of arbitration shall be used. Where there has been no agreement on the law to be used and no agreement on the place of arbitration or where the place of arbitration is not clear, the law where the court is located shall be used.

Article 17. Where parties apply to set aside an arbitration award on grounds not stipulated in Article 58 of the Arbitration Law or Article 260 of the Civil Procedure Law, a people's court shall not accept the application.

Article 18. The provision of Clause 1 of Article 58 of the Arbitration Law that "there is no arbitration agreement" refers to the parties not having reached an arbitration agreement. There shall be deemed to be no arbitration agreement where an arbitration agreement has been determined to be invalid or revoked.

Article 19. Where parties apply to set aside an arbitration award on the grounds that the arbitration award has exceeded the scope of the arbitration agreement, after examination and verification that this is the case, the people's court shall set aside that portion of the arbitration award that exceeded the scope. But where the portion that exceeded the scope cannot be separated from the other award matters, the people's court shall set aside the arbitration award.

Article 20. The provision of Article 58 of the Arbitration Law regarding "not in conformity with statutory procedure" refers to situations where non-conformance with the arbitration procedure in the Arbitration Law and the parties' choice of arbitration rules that may influence the correct award in a case.

Article 21. In cases where one of the following circumstances exists when parties apply to set aside a domestic arbitration award, the people's court may notify the arbitration tribunal to re-arbitrate the cases within a specified time limit in accordance with Article 61 of the Arbitration Law:
(1) the evidence on which the arbitration award was based was falsified;
(2) the other party concealed evidence which was sufficient to affect the impartiality of the award.
In the notification people's courts shall explain the specific reasons for requiring re-arbitration.

Article 22. Where the arbitration tribunal commences the re-arbitration within the time period specified by the people's court, the people's court shall rule to terminate invalidation procedures. Where re-arbitration has not commenced, the people's court shall rule to reinstate invalidation procedures.

Article 23. Where parties do not accept a re-arbitration award, they may apply to the people's court to set aside the re-arbitration award in accordance with Article 58 of the Arbitration Law within six months of the written arbitration award being served.

Article 24. In cases where parties apply to set aside an arbitration award, the people's court shall convene a collegial panel, and this panel shall formally question the parties.

Article 25. Where, after a people's court accepts a party's application to set aside an arbitration award, another party applies to enforce the same arbitration award, the people's court receiving the enforcement application shall, after receipt, rule to suspend enforcement.

Article 26. Where, after an application from a party to a people's court to set aside an arbitration award has been rejected, the party once again raises a defense to enforcement based on the same grounds during enforcement procedures, the people's court shall not sustain it.

Article 27. Where parties have not raised an objection to the validity of an arbitration agreement during arbitration procedures, and after the arbitration award has been rendered calls for setting aside the arbitration award or raises the defense that there should not be any enforcement on the grounds that the arbitration agreement is invalid, the people's court shall not sustain it.

Where parties raise an objection to the validity of an arbitration agreement during arbitration procedures, and after the arbitration award has been rendered once again calls for setting aside the arbitration award or raises the defense that there should not be any enforcement on the grounds that the arbitration agreement is invalid, if an examination and verification confirms that it conforms to the provisions of Article 58 of the Arbitration Law or Articles 217 and 260 of the Civil Procedure Law, the people's court shall sustain it.

Article 28. Where parties request that a conciliation statement or an arbitration award issued in accordance with a settlement agreement between the parties not be enforced, the people's court shall not sustain it.

Article 29. In cases where parties apply to enforce an arbitration, the intermediate people's court in the location of the residence of the party against whom enforcement is being sought or in the location of the property against which enforcement is being sought shall have jurisdiction.

Article 30. In accordance with the actual needs of trying cases of setting aside and enforcing arbitration awards, people's courts may require arbitration institutions to provide explanations or call for the relevant arbitration files of the arbitration institution.

People's courts may deliver rulings they make in the process of handling cases involving arbitration to the relevant arbitration institution.

Article 31. This interpretation shall become effective from the day of promulgation.

Other judicial interpretations issued by this court that may conflict with this interpretation shall be subject to this interpretation.

关于适用《中华人民共和国仲裁法》若干问题的解释

【发布单位】最高人民法院
【发布文号】法释〔2006〕7号
【发布日期】2006-08-23
【生效日期】2006-09-08
【失效日期】-----------
【所属类别】国家法律法规
【文件来源】人民法院报

最高人民法院关于适用《中华人民共和国仲裁法》若干问题的解释

（法释〔2006〕7号）

中华人民共和国最高人民法院公告

　　《最高人民法院关于适用〈中华人民共和国仲裁法〉若干问题的解释》已于2005年12月26日由最高人民法院审判委员会第1375次会议通过，现予公布，自2006年9月8日起施行。

二○○六年八月二十三日

　　根据《中华人民共和国仲裁法》和《中华人民共和国民事诉讼法》等法律规定，对人民法院审理涉及仲裁案件适用法律的若干问题作如下解释：

　　第一条　 仲裁法第十六条规定的“其他书面形式”的仲裁协议，包括以合同书、信件和数据电文（包括电报、电传、传真、电子数据交换和电子邮件）等形式达成的请求仲裁的协议。

　　第二条　 当事人概括约定仲裁事项为合同争议的，基于合同成立、效力、变更、转让、履行、违约责任、解释、解除等产生的纠纷都可以认定为仲裁事项。

　　第三条　 仲裁协议约定的仲裁机构名称不准确，但能够确定具体的仲裁机构的，应当认定选定了仲裁机构。

　　第四条　 仲裁协议仅约定纠纷适用的仲裁规则的，视为未约定仲裁机构，但当事人达成补充协议或者按照约定的仲裁规则能够确定仲裁机构的除外。

　　第五条　 仲裁协议约定两个以上仲裁机构的，当事人可以协议选择其中的一个仲裁机构申请仲裁；当事人不能就仲裁机构选择达成一致的，仲裁协议无效。

　　第六条　 仲裁协议约定由某地的仲裁机构仲裁且该地仅有一个仲裁机构的，该仲裁机构视为约定的仲裁机构。该地有两个以上仲裁机构的，当事人可以协议选择其中的一个仲裁机构申请仲裁；当事人不能就仲裁机构选择达成一致的，仲裁协议无效。

　　第七条　 当事人约定争议可以向仲裁机构申请仲裁也可以向人民法院起诉的，仲裁协议无效。但一方向仲裁机构申请仲裁，另一方未在仲裁法第二十条第二款规定期间内提出异议的除外。

　　第八条　 当事人订立仲裁协议后合并、分立的，仲裁协议对其权利义务的继受人有效。

　　当事人订立仲裁协议后死亡的，仲裁协议对承继其仲裁事项中的权利义务的继承人有效。

　　前两款规定情形，当事人订立仲裁协议时另有约定的除外。

　　第九条　 债权债务全部或者部分转让的，仲裁协议对受让人有效，但当事人另有约定、在受让债权债务时受让人明确反对或者不知有单独仲裁协议的除外。

　　第十条　 合同成立后未生效或者被撤销的，仲裁协议效力的认定适用仲裁法第十九条第一款的规定。

　　当事人在订立合同时就争议达成仲裁协议的，合同未成立不影响仲裁协议的效力。

　　第十一条　 合同约定解决争议适用其他合同、文件中的有效仲裁条款的，发生合同争议时，当事人应当按照该仲裁条款提请仲裁。

　　涉外合同应当适用的有关国际条约中有仲裁规定的，发生合同争议时，当事人应当按照国际条约中的仲裁规定提请仲裁。

　　第十二条　 当事人向人民法院申请确认仲裁协议效力的案件，由仲裁协议约定的仲裁机构所在地的中级人民法院管辖；仲裁协议约定的仲裁机构不明确的，由仲裁协议签订地或者被申请人住所地的中级人民法院管辖。

　　申请确认涉外仲裁协议效力的案件，由仲裁协议约定的仲裁机构所在地、仲裁协议签订地、申请人或者被申请人住所地的中级人民法院管辖。

　　涉及海事海商纠纷仲裁协议效力的案件，由仲裁协议约定的仲裁机构所在地、仲裁协议签订地、申请人或者被申请人住所地的海事法院管辖；上述地点没有海事法院的，由就近的海事法院管辖。

　　第十三条　 依照仲裁法第二十条第二款的规定，当事人在仲裁庭首次开庭前没有对仲裁协议的效力提出异议，而后向人民法院申请确认仲裁协议无效的，人民法院不予受理。

　　仲裁机构对仲裁协议的效力作出决定后，当事人向人民法院申请确认仲裁协议效力或者申请撤销仲裁机构的决定的，人民法院不予受理。

　　第十四条　 仲裁法第二十六条规定的“首次开庭”是指答辩期满后人民法院组织的第一次开庭审理，不包括审前程序中的各项活动。

　　第十五条　 人民法院审理仲裁协议效力确认案件，应当组成合议庭进行审查，并询问当事人。

　　第十六条　 对涉外仲裁协议的效力审查，适用当事人约定的法律；当事人没有约定适用的法律但约定了仲裁地的，适用仲裁地法律；没有约定适用的法律也没有约定仲裁地或者仲裁地约定不明的，适用法院地法律。

　　第十七条　 当事人以不属于仲裁法第五十八条或者民事诉讼法第二百六十条规定的事由申请撤销仲裁裁决的，人民法院不予支持。

　　第十八条　 仲裁法第五十八条第一款第一项规定的“没有仲裁协议”是指当事人没有达成仲裁协议。仲裁协议被认定无效或者被撤销的，视为没有仲裁协议。

　　第十九条　 当事人以仲裁裁决事项超出仲裁协议范围为由申请撤销仲裁裁决，经审查属实的，人民法院应当撤销仲裁裁决中的超裁部分。但超裁部分与其他裁决事项不可分的，人民法院应当撤销仲裁裁决。

　　第二十条　 仲裁法第五十八条规定的“违反法定程序”，是指违反仲裁法规定的仲裁程序和当事人选择的仲裁规则可能影响案件正确裁决的情形。

　　第二十一条　 当事人申请撤销国内仲裁裁决的案件属于下列情形之一的，人民法院可以依照仲裁法第六十一条的规定通知仲裁庭在一定期限内重新仲裁：

　　（一）仲裁裁决所根据的证据是伪造的；

　　（二）对方当事人隐瞒了足以影响公正裁决的证据的。

　　人民法院应当在通知中说明要求重新仲裁的具体理由。

　　第二十二条　 仲裁庭在人民法院指定的期限内开始重新仲裁的，人民法院应当裁定终结撤销程序;未开始重新仲裁的，人民法院应当裁定恢复撤销程序。

　　第二十三条　 当事人对重新仲裁裁决不服的，可以在重新仲裁裁决书送达之日起六个月内依据仲裁法第五十八条规定向人民法院申请撤销。

　　第二十四条　 当事人申请撤销仲裁裁决的案件，人民法院应当组成合议庭审理，并询问当事人。

　　第二十五条　 人民法院受理当事人撤销仲裁裁决的申请后，另一方当事人申请执行同一仲裁裁决的，受理执行申请的人民法院应当在受理后裁定中止执行。

　　第二十六条　 当事人向人民法院申请撤销仲裁裁决被驳回后，又在执行程序中以相同理由提出不予执行抗辩的，人民法院不予支持。

　　第二十七条　 当事人在仲裁程序中未对仲裁协议的效力提出异议，在仲裁裁决作出后以仲裁协议无效为由主张撤销仲裁裁决或者提出不予执行抗辩的，人民法院不予支持。

　　当事人在仲裁程序中对仲裁协议的效力提出异议，在仲裁裁决作出后又以此为由主张撤销仲裁裁决或者提出不予执行抗辩，经审查符合仲裁法第五十八条或者民事诉讼法第二百一十七条、第二百六十条规定的，人民法院应予支持。

　　第二十八条　 当事人请求不予执行仲裁调解书或者根据当事人之间的和解协议作出的仲裁裁决书的，人民法院不予支持。

　　第二十九条　 当事人申请执行仲裁裁决案件，由被执行人住所地或者被执行的财产所在地的中级人民法院管辖。

　　第三十条　 根据审理撤销、执行仲裁裁决案件的实际需要，人民法院可以要求仲裁机构作出说明或者向相关仲裁机构调阅仲裁案卷。

　　人民法院在办理涉及仲裁的案件过程中作出的裁定，可以送相关的仲裁机构。

　　第三十一条　 本解释自公布之日起实施。

　　本院以前发布的司法解释与本解释不一致的，以本解释为准。