October 21, 2025 – Delegation of Lawyers from Ten Countries of Global Legal Meet Visit to Shenzhen General Chamber of Commerce

Chan Sai-keung:
Building a Normalized International Legal Collaboration Network

Dr. Chan Sai-keung, Co-Chair of the Organizing Committee of Global Legal Summit 2025, Head of International Affairs of the Hong Kong Association for External Friendship, and Senior Partner of Or & Partners, served as the moderator of the seminar. At the opening, he directly addressed the current situation: “With the deepening of the Belt and Road Initiative and the accelerated development of the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, the scale of cross-border investments by Shenzhen enterprises continues to expand. However, differences in commercial rules and compliance requirements across jurisdictions have become the main obstacles for enterprises seeking to ‘go global.’”

He emphasized that convening global legal elites is not only about breaking through regulatory barriers and answering practical corporate questions, but more importantly about building a ‘normalized international legal collaboration network.’ “Through this network, we hope professional legal services will become both a ‘safety shield’ and a ‘navigation compass’ for Shenzhen enterprises’ overseas expansion, helping them operate compliantly and develop steadily in the global market.”

Joseph Yazbek Ramady:
Middle East Reconstruction Holds Opportunities, Compliance Remains the Bottom Line

Mr. Joseph Yazbek Ramady, Senior Managing Partner of Yazconsult Dubai Law Firm, highlighted cooperation opportunities in his sharing: “Syria and Saudi Arabia are at critical stages of infrastructure upgrading and industrial transformation. There is significant cooperation potential with Chinese enterprises in sectors such as construction engineering, energy development, and logistics hub construction.”

He also cautioned that while Chinese enterprises have advantages in technology and cost, they must pay close attention to local compliance requirements: “High-profit projects in Saudi Arabia come with high entry thresholds. Taxation and labor policies are still undergoing dynamic adjustments. It is advisable to enter the market through a ‘local partner + professional law firm’ model and complete thorough compliance due diligence in advance.” He further recommended the UAE as a regional operations hub in the Middle East: “The UAE courts are highly efficient in commercial dispute adjudication and enforcement, reducing cross-border dispute resolution costs. Coupled with the New York Convention ensuring the enforceability of international arbitral awards, this provides dual protection for corporate asset security.”

Eddy Isworo:
ASEAN Market Shows Vast Potential, Localization Strategy Is Crucial

Mr. Eddy Isworo, Partner of Budidjaja International Lawyers in Indonesia, used Indonesia as an entry point to analyze ASEAN opportunities: “ASEAN has enormous potential in the digital economy, new energy, and agricultural technology sectors. Indonesia is currently advancing 260 national strategic projects covering railways, ports, and data centers. The government has relaxed foreign ownership restrictions in many industries and established economic zones in various provinces offering tax incentives.”

For Shenzhen enterprises, he offered specific suggestions: “In the consumer electronics sector, Indonesia’s population of 280 million creates strong market demand. Chinese brands in home appliances and smartphones already hold significant market share, and localized production can reduce tariffs. In the data center sector, Indonesia lacks high-standard facilities, where Shenzhen enterprises’ technology and construction experience can fill the gap.” However, he stressed Indonesia’s high localization requirements for foreign enterprises: “Some industries mandate that Indonesian shareholders hold more than 51%. Enterprises must work with local law firms in advance to design compliant equity structures to avoid project delays caused by legal differences.”

Niyant Gupta:
Room Remains for China–India Cooperation, Rule Alignment Needs Improvement

Mr. Niyant Gupta, Founder and Managing Partner of India Asia Law LLP, noted that although India adjusted its foreign investment approval process after 2020 and some sectors require government approval, the overall environment remains open: “There is ample investment space for Chinese enterprises in manufacturing and new energy. Companies such as Xiaomi, vivo, and TCL have successfully operated in India through ‘technology licensing + localized production’ models.”

He advised enterprises to pay attention to India’s Product-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes: “Subsidies of up to 18% are available for the production of certain products, which are tangible incentives.” He also warned of intellectual property risks under the compulsory licensing regime: “Although India has an internationally aligned IP protection system, in special circumstances the government may allow other enterprises to use patented technologies. Risks should be mitigated through robust contractual clauses and enforcement strategies.” Regarding dispute resolution, he suggested: “China and India are both parties to the New York Convention. Arbitral awards from Hong Kong, Mainland China, and India are mutually enforceable. When signing contracts, priority should be given to Hong Kong or Singapore as the arbitration seat, with clear specification of arbitration language and governing law to avoid losses caused by ambiguity.”

Susan Pattamasa:
China–Thailand Trade Benefits Are Significant, Risk Prevention Must Come First

Ms. Susan Pattamasa, Senior Managing Partner of Thailand-based Wisan Law Firm, who has long focused on China–Thailand trade legal services, introduced policies of Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI) targeting high value-added industries such as new energy vehicles, electronic components, and medical devices, including “eight-year tax exemptions plus relaxed foreign ownership limits.” “Chinese new energy vehicle enterprises have already established operations in Thailand, integrating into the ASEAN supply chain through localized production. Shenzhen enterprises in electronic components and medical devices can leverage these policies to reduce costs and reach Southeast Asia.”

She also candidly pointed out limitations: “Foreign ownership in Thailand’s retail, media, and agricultural sectors is capped at 49%, and some industries require special government approval. Foreign enterprises cannot directly own land and must resolve this through Thai-incorporated entities or leasing.” She recommended that Shenzhen enterprises work with local law firms to formulate compliance plans before entering the market and make use of bilateral China–Thailand agreements: “Tariff reductions and avoidance of double taxation can lower cross-border costs. With a large ethnic Chinese population and inclusive culture, a ‘localized team + compliant operations’ approach makes it easier to build brand recognition.”

Tu Yunchun:
Forming the “Shenzhen Entrepreneurs Overseas Legal Services Team” to Bridge the Last Mile

Mr. Tu Yunchun, Rotating Vice Chairman of the Shenzhen Entrepreneurs Legal Services Center and Partner at Grandall Law Firm, pointed out that Shenzhen enterprises face challenges such as fragmented legal resources and insufficient local services in overseas expansion. He proposed that the Shenzhen Entrepreneurs Association take the lead in forming a “Shenzhen Entrepreneurs Overseas Legal Services Team” together with the international law firms participating in the seminar, with cooperation memoranda incorporated into the Shenzhen Entrepreneurs service system.

He noted that the Legal Services Center has already selected 20 top Greater Bay Area law firms to form a service team: “By integrating international lawyer resources, we can build a cross-border legal service network featuring global coverage, professional matching, and rapid response, ensuring that enterprises have access to laws and lawyers for their overseas investments.”

Liao Mingzong:
Leveraging “National Team” Strengths to Empower Shenzhen’s Global Expansion

Mr. Liao Mingzong, Rotating Vice Chairman of the Shenzhen Entrepreneurs Legal Services Center and Partner at Dacheng Law Offices (whose predecessor was the Ministry of Justice-affiliated China Lawyers Affairs Center, known as the “national team” of legal services), stated that large Belt and Road infrastructure projects require professional legal support in financing, insurance, and dispute resolution, presenting vast cooperation opportunities through international service networks.

“Shenzhen values pragmatism and efficiency,” he emphasized. “We hope to accelerate the implementation of the ‘Shenzhen Entrepreneurs Overseas Legal Services Team,’ further strengthen close cooperation, and provide stronger support for Shenzhen enterprises’ global strategies.”