作者：赫曼·诺尔特，瑞中法协会员， 日内瓦调解中心董事

瑞中法协于2021年3月26日星期五举办了第15届全球论坛。本次论坛聚焦于2020年12月30日签署的《中欧全面投资协定》，及其在经济和技术领域产生的影响。

张天泽首先简要介绍了瑞中法协举办的系列活动，并概述了《中欧全面投资协定》的内容。前世界贸易组织资深参赞唐小兵对瑞中法协对于推动全球法律人之间的专业合作表示肯定，并赞扬了SCLA全球论坛对于推动跨文化之间的沟通和交流的贡献。唐小兵在国际贸易领域具有丰富的工作经验。唐小兵指出，中欧全面投资协定还未最终敲定，有关投资者保护以及争端解决的条款有待写入，其在未来几年将会继续协商。

唐小兵指出，《中欧全面投资协定》是最具雄心的协议，有助于缓解各方对中国政府补贴国有企业的担忧。协定旨在消除现有投资限制，为欧洲公司打开了广阔的中国市场。协定超越了国际多边贸易协定的承诺，且符合最近的欧盟贸易政策审查要求，该审查涉及到欧盟中美欧贸易大三角以及其它大型贸易集团中地位。在争端解决方面，欧盟似乎优先考虑以世贸组织规则为基础制定解决程序。

中央电视台特邀评论员托马斯·鲍肯（Thomas Pauken）从各利益相关方的经济政策角度分析了《中欧全面投资协定》。鲍肯指出，《中欧全面投资协定》能够改变世界贸易规则，有助于实现双赢。协定将有助于减少中国和欧盟之间的大量贸易顺差，从而中国能够获得更多优质的欧洲商品。随着中国货币估值提高，更多外资将由中国进入欧洲。鲍肯先生还就美国是否会接受中欧全面投资协定发表了自己的观点。

随后，康奈尔大学新兴市场研究学院学术主任露迪丝·卡萨诺瓦（Lourdes Casanova）教授对《中欧全面投资协定》的经济影响发表了独到的见解。卡萨诺瓦指出，中国擅长以低廉的价格提供产品，并保持高水平的创新。五大智能手机品牌中，只有一个来自美国。在外商投资方面，中国更倾向于新建投资，而美国则侧重收购企业，尤其是在欧洲。中美之间的贸易额明显减少，虽然华为在美国没有销售额，但在全球其它地区拓展了业务范围。

日内瓦Mind Matters基金会首席执行官罗特·科佩尔（Rotem Kopel）女士介绍了可能会对国际贸易产生重大影响的试点项目，该项目由基金会与世界经济论坛和德勤公司合作完成。项目涉及心理健康领域，这一问题已经成为新冠肺炎大流行期间的一个焦点。该项目是解决国际贸易相关问题的典范，兼具社会和公共卫生效益。

演讲过后，论坛分为两个讨论小组，一组讨论技术在《中欧全面投资协定》中的作用，另一组讨论争端解决问题。技术小组由索尼欧洲公司前首席执行官尼古拉斯·巴宾（Nicolas Babin）主持。所有小组成员都有丰富的技术专业背景，包括法律和技术领域，并分享了他们的经验。小组成员指出，技术可以促进贸易发展，并服务于商业参与者。因此，人们没有理由害怕技术会导致工作岗位大量消失。

另一个小组讨论了解决争端的方法，这是《中欧全面投资协定》中尚未解决的问题。讨论由安娜·海梅斯（Ana Jaimes）女士主持。海梅斯女士来自墨西哥，是的一位经验丰富的仲裁律师，曾参与处理重要的投资者与国家之间的争端。小组成员来自世界不同的地理区域。该小组讨论了在投资者与国家争端中适用的协商、调解与仲裁方法，成员重点讨论了如何避免贸易争端升级为有争议的法律程序，对调解的作用给予高度重视。

最后，来自德国科隆的论坛首席报告员赫尔曼·诺特（Hermann Knott）与论坛创始人张天泽总结了论坛的成果。超过20个国家的60余位代表受邀注册参会。

SCLA Successfully Hold the 15th Global Forum- EU-ChinaInvestment Forum

Hermann Knott, Member of SCLA, Board of Director of Geneva International Dispute Institute

On Friday, March 26, 2021, the SCLA held ist 15th Global Forum, this time on the topic oft he EU-China Comprehensive Agreement of Investment of December 30,2020 (CAI), and ist impact on economic factors and technology.

After an overview of SCLA’s activities by Mr. Tianze Zhang Mr. Xiaobing Tang who has had a lifelong professional involvement in international trade, particularly with the WTO gave an overview over CAI. It not yet completed as provisions regarding investor protection and dispute resolution are still missing and will be negotiated over the next years. Mr. Tang described CAI as a most ambitious deal. It addresses the fear of subsidies being granted to Chinese state-owned companies. By eliminating pre-existing investment restrictions it opens the vast market in China for European companies. It goes beyond the commitments deriving from the international multilateral trade agreements. The CAI fits in with the recent EU Trade Policy Review which addresses the position of the EU in the triangle with the US and China as other large trading blocs. 

In terms of dispute resolution the EU seems to give priority to the WTO-based settlement procedures. 

The next speaker, Thomas Pauken, a commentator living for many years in China, analyzued CAI from the prespective of economic policy of all stakeholders involved. He concluded that CAI is a gam-changer in the world of trade and can be considered a win-win situation for both parties. CAI will hel reduce the considerable trade surplus between China and the EU. It will provide better access in China to coveted European goods. A higher valuation oft he Chinese currency will result in more foreign investment from China into Europe. Mr. Pauken also discussed the position of the US, whether it will accept CAI. 

Professor Lourdes Casanove, Director oft he Emerging Markets Institute at Cornell University, then gave a unique insight into the economic impact of CAI. China has excelled offering products at the cheapest prices maintaining a high level of innovation. Only one one oft he five largest brands for smartphones is from the US. In terms of foreign investment, China has preferred greenfield investments, while the US put emphasis on acquiring businesses, particularly in Europe. The trade between China and the US has decreased significantly. Huawei, while it has no sales in the US, has increased its worldwide footprint. 

The next speaker at the Forum was Mrs. Rotem Kopel, CEO of Geneva-based MInd Matters Foundation, in Geneva who presented a pilot project related with a potentially big impcat on international trade. It has been realized together with the World Economic Forum and Deloitte. It relates to mental health, a subject which has become a focal point during the pandemic. The project is a great example of addressing issues in international trade which have a social and health-related benefit.

After these most interesting presentations two panels were organized, one on the role of technology in CAI, and the other one on dispute resolution. The technology panel was chaired by Mr. Nicolas Babin, former CEO of Sony Europe. All panelists had a fantastic professional background in technology, includin legal tech and contributed their experiences. It was emphasized that technology enhances trade and serves those involved in business. There is no reason to be afraid of technology as scrapping jobs. 

The second panel addressed methods for dispute resolution, the unresolved issue in the CAI. The discussion was chaired by Mrs. Ana Jaimes, an experienced arbitration lawyer from Mexico having been inovlved in important investor-state disputes. The panel members represented the different geographical araes oft he world. The methods of consultation, mediation and arbitration being applied in investor-state disputes were discussed. Ways to avoid a trade dispute escalating into a contentious procedures made up the central point of the discussion with the role of mediation being the most strongly emphasized aspect. 

The lively panel discussions were concluded by remarks by Hermann Knott from Cologne, Germany, chief reporter oft he Forum, summarizing the results oft he Forum and Mr. Tianze Zhang who had brought together such an excellent group of experts. 

More than 60 representatives from over 20 countries were invited to register for the forum.