That depends on the wording of the clause, the CIETAC rules in force when the arbitration started and the law that governs the agreement. Under the CIETAC rules, if the parties have not agreed a seat, the institution's rules supply a default, which may point to a place in mainland China, subject to CIETAC's power to decide otherwise. The answer affects which court supervises the arbitration and how any award is treated. We review the clause, any later correspondence and the conduct of the parties before advising, because an early answer avoids costly arguments later.

It can be acceptable, but it should be a deliberate choice. A mainland seat brings Chinese procedural law and supervision by Chinese courts, and hearings may be expected in Chinese unless the parties agree otherwise. Some Bangladeshi companies prefer Hong Kong or Singapore because the procedure is familiar and English is the default working language. Others accept a mainland seat to win the contract, and then negotiate protections on language, arbitrator nationality and document production. We set out the trade-offs for China-related arbitration plainly so that you can decide with full information before signing.

Bangladesh is a party to the New York Convention, and the Arbitration Act 2001 contains provisions on recognising and enforcing foreign arbitral awards. A CIETAC award made in mainland China can therefore be presented for enforcement in Bangladesh, subject to the grounds for refusal recognised by the Act and the Convention, such as lack of proper notice or a conflict with public policy. It needs authenticated copies of the award and agreement, with translations where required. We prepare the filing, anticipate the debtor's objections and plan steps against identified assets. Early planning improves the chance of recovery in China-related arbitration.

The revised Arbitration Law took effect on 1 March 2026. Its effect on a specific contract depends on transitional provisions, the seat and the rules the parties chose. The changes are most relevant where an arbitration is seated in mainland China or where enforcement is sought before Chinese courts. Contracts signed earlier are not automatically rewritten, but procedural steps taken after the effective date may be affected. We work with Chinese counsel to confirm how the revised law applies in your China-related arbitration and whether any amendment to future contracts is advisable.

No. Hong Kong SAR has its own arbitration ordinance based on the UNCITRAL Model Law, its own courts and its own institution, HKIAC. A Hong Kong award is enforced in mainland China under a specific arrangement between the two jurisdictions, rather than under the New York Convention. In Bangladesh, a Hong Kong award is approached as a foreign award, and the enforcement analysis will consider the Convention position and the Arbitration Act 2001. We treat Hong Kong, Macao and the mainland as separate jurisdictions in every assessment and every piece of advice we give.

The language is usually what the parties agreed. If the clause is silent, the institutional rules decide, and some rules default to Chinese unless the tribunal or institution determines otherwise. For a Bangladeshi party, conducting the case in Chinese can increase cost and make it harder for witnesses and management to follow the proceedings. We encourage clients to agree English expressly in the contract. Where that has not happened, we can apply for English to be used and arrange reliable translation of key documents, submissions and witness evidence throughout. Insist on clarity early in the contract.

This is a difficult area. The Arbitration Act 2001 is primarily framed around arbitrations seated in Bangladesh, and the courts' power to grant interim measures in support of a foreign-seated arbitration has been limited and debated. The answer depends on the relief sought, the statutory basis and current case law. In many China-related arbitration cases the more effective routes are the emergency arbitrator procedure under the chosen rules or an application to the court of the seat. We assess every available option quickly when urgent protection is needed. Speed is essential in these situations, so prepare early.

Cost control starts with the clause and continues with case management. Institutional fees vary between CIETAC, HKIAC and SIAC, and some are calculated by reference to the amount in dispute. Translation, travel and expert evidence can add significantly. We agree a budget with clients at the outset, recommend a focused approach to document production, and consider early settlement or mediation where it makes commercial sense. Funding options, including third-party funding, can also be explored, subject to the rules of the seat and the institution, and to careful review of the terms offered. Keep a close eye on spending throughout.