On 13 March 2024, the Ministry of Justice of Japan, together with the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), held the “2024 Tokyo Forum on Dispute Resolution” in a hybrid format (both in-person and online). This forum has been held three times since 2021 as part of Justice Affairs
Diplomacy, the Ministry of Justice’s initiative, which aims to promote fair, equitable, and rules-based dispute resolution in the civil and commercial law field.
The Forum consisted of three parts: an Opening Session, Session 1 (ICSID Session) and Session 2 (UNCITRAL Session) with the participation of Ms. Anna Joubin-Bret, Secretary of UNCITRAL in person and Ms. Meg Kinnear, Secretary-General of ICSID online. Over 400 participants from all over the world registered to participate online.
At the opening session, Mr. MATSUMOTO Takeshi, Director of the International Affairs Division, Minister’s Secretariat, Ministry of Justice of Japan, Ms. Joubin-Bret, and Ms. Kinnear delivered opening remarks.
Two panels took place during Session 1. Ms. Kinnear moderated Panel 1of Session 1, which discussed the Code of Conduct for Arbitrators in International Investment Disputes. In Panel 2, moderated by Ms. Geraldine Fischer, Senior Legal Counsel of ICSID, academics and legal practitioners in the field of international investment arbitration engaged in fruitful discussions on arbitration practices under the new ICSID Rules enacted in 2022, as well as the enforcement and annulment of arbitral awards, which are key features of ICSID arbitration, with the aim of developing arbitration practices.
Session 2 focused on the stocktaking project on dispute resolution in the digital economy, proposed by Japan and implemented by UNCITRAL. Experts and practitioners from around the world engaged in lively and substantive discussions on various topics, including the recognition and enforcement of electronic awards, electronic notices of arbitration and their delivery, and online dispute resolution platforms. The discussions here will be reported at the upcoming UNCITRAL Commission session, after which further discussions will be expected toward the formation of international rules.
The Ministry of Justice will continue to actively contribute to the formation of international rules in the field of dispute resolution, in cooperation with international organizations such as UNCITRAL and ICSID.
