More than 200 guests, mostly international legal experts, gathered in Shanghai on Wednesday for a seminar on resolving global commercial disputes. This comes as China continues to expand its "one-stop" international commercial dispute resolution mechanism. They also visited the Shanghai International Commercial Court, which has been operating for over a year. 

Cutting-edge AI technology is quietly working its magic in Chinese courts. At the Shanghai International Commercial Court, a delegation of international law experts saw it firsthand, from a transparent AI translation screen offering 15 languages to a digital human providing clear guidance and information. 

AMAPOLA GRIJALVA VEGA, President, Mexico-China Alternative Dispute Prevention and Settlement Center "I didn't expect it, to be very honest and I think it shows a very professional and well put together institution." 

ZHOU HANMIN, Standing Committee Member, 14th CPPCC National Committee President, Shanghai Public Diplomacy Association "AI could help you on background, similar cases, together with necessary information, the collection of the law and regulations in a certain field, especially with the latest amendments."

But one more thing I need to emphasize, AI is just a helper, human beings must be the decider." 

ANNA JOUBIN-BRET, Secretary, United Nations Commission on International Trade Law "I think that AI, as long as it is a tool to enhance and support the work. If you consider this tool and you see the way Chinese courts are approaching these tools, I think there's a lot to be learned." 

Beyond AI, China is also expanding its institutional framework for dispute resolution. 

As global supply chains grow and cross-border disputes surge, China has built a "one-stop" international commercial dispute resolution mechanism that integrates litigation, arbitration and mediation. 

At the seminar on September 9, two new mediation bodies were added to the mechanism, bringing the total to 10 international commercial arbitration institutions and 4 international commercial mediation institutions. 

China is also strengthening legal cooperation with other countries, including Singapore. 

STEVEN CHONG, Justice of the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court of Singapore "We entered into an agreement called the MOU on the Information of the Foreign Law where we refer questions of Singapore law and questions of Chinese law to each court, and for the courts to give a view about what the law should be based on Chinese law or based on Singapore law. And that is efficient, authoritative, and very cost-friendly." 

Global legal cooperation is key to tackling an increasingly complex trade environment, and seminars like this are helping to build it.