Article 27 The claimant may renounce or amend its arbitration claim. The respondent may accept or refuse an arbitration claim and shall have the right to make a counter-claim.

Article 28 A party may apply for property preservation if it may become impossible or difficult for the party to implement the award due to an act of the other party or other causes.

If a party applies for property preservation, the arbitration commission shall submit the party's application to the people's court in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Civil Procedure Law.

If an application for property preservation has been wrongfully made, the applicant shall compensate the person against whom the application has been made for any loss incurred from property preservation.

Article 29 A party or statutory agent may appoint a lawyer or other agent to carry out arbitration activities. To appoint a lawyer or other agent to carry out arbitration activities, a power of attorney shall be submitted to the arbitration commission.

Section 2 Formation of Arbitration Tribunal

Article 30 An arbitration tribunal may be composed of either three arbitrators or one arbitrator. An arbitration tribunal composed of three arbitrators shall have a presiding arbitrator.

Article 31 If the parties agree that the arbitration tribunal shall be composed of three arbitrators, they shall each appoint or entrust the chairman of the arbitration commission to appoint one arbitrator. The parties shall jointly select or jointly entrust the chairman of the arbitration commission to appoint the third arbitrator who shall be the presiding arbitrator.

If the parties agree that the arbitration tribunal shall be composed of one arbitrator, they shall jointly appoint or jointly entrust the chairman of the arbitration commission to appoint the arbitrator.

Article 32 If the parties fail to agree on the method of formation of the arbitration tribunal or to select the arbitrators within the time limit specified in the rules of arbitration, the arbitrators shall be appointed by the chairman of the arbitration commission.

Article 33 After the arbitration tribunal has been formed, the arbitration commission shall notify the parties in writing of the tribunal's formation.

Article 34 In one of the following circumstances, the arbitrator must withdraw, and the parties shall also have the right to challenge the arbitrator for a withdrawal:

(1) The arbitrator is a party in the case or a close relative of a party or of an agent in the case;

(2) The arbitrator has a personal interest in the case;

(3) The arbitrator has other relationship with a party or his agent in the case which may affect the impartiality of arbitration; or

(4) The arbitrator has privately met with a party or agent or accepted an invitation to entertainment or gift from a party or agent.

Article 35 If a party challenges an arbitrator, he shall submit his challenge, with a statement of the reasons therefore, prior to the first hearing. If the matter giving rise to the challenge became known after the first hearing, the challenge may be made before the conclusion of the final hearing of the case.

Article 36 The decision as to whether or not the arbitrator should withdraw shall be made by the chairman of the arbitration commission. If the chairman of the arbitration commission serves as an arbitrator, the decision shall be made collectively by the arbitration commission.

Article 37 If an arbitrator cannot perform his duties due to his withdrawal or for other reasons, a substitute arbitrator shall be selected or appointed in accordance with this Law.

After a substitute arbitrator has been selected or appointed on account of an arbitrator's withdrawal, a party may request that the arbitration proceedings already carried out should be carried out anew. The decision as to whether to approve it or not shall be made by the arbitration tribunal. The arbitration tribunal may also make a decision of its own motion as to whether or not the arbitration proceedings already carried out should be carried out anew.

Article 38 If an arbitrator is involved in the circumstances described in item (4) of Article 34 of this Law and the circumstances are serious or involved in the circumstances described in item (6) of Article 58 of this Law, he shall assume legal liability according to law and the arbitration commission shall remove his name from the register of arbitrators.

Section 3 Hearing and Award

Article 39 Arbitration shall be conducted by means of oral hearings. If the parties agree to arbitration without oral hearings, the arbitration tribunal may render an arbitration award on the basis of the written application for arbitration, the written defense and other material.

Article 40 Arbitration shall be conducted in camera. If the parties agree to public arbitration, the arbitration may be public unless State secrets are involved.

Article 41 The arbitration commission shall notify the parties of the date of the hearing within the time limit specified in the rules of arbitration. A party may, within the time limit specified in the rules of arbitration, request a postponement of the hearing if he has justified reasons therefore. The arbitration tribunal shall decide whether or not to postpone the hearing.

Article 42 If the claimant fails to appear before the arbitration tribunal without justified reasons after having been notified in writing or leaves the hearing prior to its conclusion without the permission of the arbitration tribunal, he may be deemed to have withdrawn his application for arbitration.

If the respondent fails to appear before the arbitration tribunal without justified reasons after having been notified in writing or leaves the hearing prior to its conclusion without the permission of the arbitration tribunal, a default award may be made.

Article 43 Parties shall provide evidences in support of their own arguments.

The arbitration tribunal may, as it considers necessary, collect evidences on its own.

Article 44 If the arbitration tribunal considers that a special issue requires appraisal, it may refer the issue for appraisal to an appraisal department agreed on by the parties or to an appraisal department designated by the arbitration tribunal.

If requested by a party or required by the arbitration tribunal, the appraisal department shall send its appraiser to attend the hearing. Subject to the permission of the arbitration tribunal, the parties may question the appraiser.