Zhiheng News | Kyrgyzstan's legal exchange activities were successfully completed, and China-Kyrgyzstan judicial cooperation has reached a new height

On August 9, 2025, Attorney Yang Chunxue from Guangdong Zhiheng (Zhongshan) Law Firm and Attorney Yan Zhenyun from Xinjiang Zhuohui Law Firm, together with their delegation, visited Kyrgyzstan. They held a series of exchange activities with Weimin (Bishkek) Law Firm, the China Affairs Office of the Kyrgyz National Bar Association, and the Central Asia International Arbitration Center (CACIA). The parties reached a deep consensus on issues such as the cross-border legal service needs of Chinese-funded enterprises, innovation in dispute resolution mechanisms, and regional cooperation on the rule of law, thereby laying a solid legal foundation for China–Kyrgyzstan economic and trade cooperation.

Deepen law firm collaboration and establish a seamless legal services channel for Central Asia.

During a symposium with Veymin (Bishkek) Law Firm, both sides engaged in a pragmatic discussion, focusing on the rule-of-law needs of Chinese enterprises “going global.” Attorney Yang Chunxue stated that the purpose of this visit is to establish legal service channels between China and the Central Asian markets, thereby helping Chinese enterprises mitigate cross-border risks.

As the first institution established in Kyrgyzstan by a Chinese law firm, Weimin...(Bishkek)Law firms have become trusted legal partners for Chinese enterprises in Central Asia. Attorney Ye Qinlei of Weimin Law Firm provided a detailed overview of the firm’s core practice areas, which focus on legal risk prevention and control for Chinese‑invested enterprises in Kyrgyzstan. The firm offers end‑to‑end services covering company incorporation, tax compliance, labor dispute mediation, and cross‑border dispute resolution, representing a key overseas initiative in support of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Professor Liang Wenyong, from the perspective of legal cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, proposed establishing a regularized mechanism for sharing case studies and compiling practical guidelines on Central Asian law to provide enterprises with precise guidance for compliant operations. Local lawyer Doni shared insights into Kyrgyzstan’s latest investment policies and the common types of legal disputes faced by Chinese-funded enterprises.

From left to right are Attorney Yang Chunxue,Professor Liang Wenyong, Attorney Yan Zhenyun

Establish institutional platforms and facilitate cross-border practice.

On the same day, attorneys Yang Chunxue and Yan Zhenyun, accompanied by their delegation, also visited the China Affairs Office of the Kyrgyz National Bar Association. The meeting focused on standardizing the practice of Chinese lawyers in Kyrgyzstan and establishing mechanisms for enhanced cooperation. The office director provided a detailed overview of its core functions, which include the review and approval of Chinese lawyers’ qualifications to practice in Kyrgyzstan, registration and filing, routine administrative services, as well as the coordination of cross-border project collaborations and the oversight of legal service quality.

Both parties engaged in in-depth discussions on key issues such as compliance procedures for practice and risk management. The head of the office revealed that preparations are underway to establish a “Central Asia Legal and Fiscal Database,” which aims to consolidate shared resources such as policy interpretations and typical cases, thereby providing robust support for legal practice in both countries and for corporate investment.

Innovative dispute resolution, connecting international arbitration.

Subsequently, the delegation also visited the Central Asian International Arbitration Court (CACIA) and engaged in an in-depth dialogue with its President, Dr. Asheri, on topics such as innovation in cross-border dispute resolution mechanisms and the protection of the rights and interests of Chinese-invested enterprises. As the only permanent institution in Central Asia capable of conducting arbitration proceedings in three languages—Chinese, Russian, and English—the CACIA Arbitration Center’s pool of arbitrators comprises legal experts from 50 countries, enabling it to effectively address the region’s complex differences in legal systems and provide professional support for cross-border disputes.

From left to right are Attorney Yan Zhenyun,Dr. Ashley, Attorney Yang Chunxue

Dr. Ashley explained that, operating within the framework of the New York Convention, CACIA provides efficient arbitration and mediation services in areas such as international trade, energy and minerals, and engineering contracting. Its innovative “simultaneous tri-lingual court hearing” model has significantly shortened case adjudication timelines. She also noted that, in response to the enforcement challenges of concern to Chinese-funded enterprises, the court has established coordination channels with the supreme courts of the five Central Asian countries. In 2024, its final judgments were recognized and enforced by Chinese courts, providing a reliable avenue for resolving cross-border disputes.

CACIA’s “one-stop” dispute resolution solution, particularly its deep understanding of China’s legal environment and its efficient enforcement guarantees, offers Chinese enterprises facing economic and trade disputes in Central Asia a swift and impartial new avenue for resolution. The two parties have reached a preliminary agreement on cooperation, marking a substantive step forward in the collaboration between a Chinese law firm and a leading arbitration institution in Central Asia.

Summary

This exchange has further implemented the judicial cooperation agreement between China and Kyrgyzstan, laying the groundwork for a institutionalized communication platform that enables Chinese lawyers to practice in Central Asia, and helping to enhance the standardization of legal services provided to Chinese‑invested enterprises in Kyrgyzstan. As major projects such as the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan Railway gain momentum, the scale of China–Kyrgyzstan economic and trade cooperation continues to expand.

This series of exchange activities marks the entry of China–Kyrgyzstan legal services cooperation into a new phase, with professional and locally adapted rule-of-law safeguards set to inject sustained momentum into the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Zhiheng · Introduction