Foreign arbitral organizations are welcome to expand their operation in China, Wang Shengchang, vice-chairman of the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC ), said Monday.

At present, no foreign arbitral organization operates in China. There are only foreign arbitrators who are employed by Chinese arbitral institutions.

During the 17th Conference of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA), Wang told Xinhua that the CIETAC is not afraid of competition. "On the contrary, I think the CIETAC can improve its ability in competition with foreign organizations."

China is one of the largest markets in the world. Along with the development of China's economy and increasing trade exchanges with other countries, more and more disputes emerge.

Arbitration has become a universal practice of resolving trade disputes for its convenience and justness. Clients can choose any arbitral organizations in the world to resolve their problems.

In the commitments that China has made to the World Trade Organization, no rules prohibit the entry of foreign arbitral organizations.

Wang, who is also one member of the ICCA, said competition with foreign organizations can improve the service quality of Chinese organizations.

To choose which organization depends on the willingness of the clients. Wang said if China has a pro-arbitration policy, foreign clients will trust Chinese organizations and choose them.

"This is very convenient for clients in China and the enforcement of arbitrament needs the supervision of Chinese judicial department, which is also beneficial for China to improve its image," said Wang.

Established in Beijing in 1956, the CIETAC is the only arbitration organization for foreign business disputes.

The CIETAC has become one of the famous arbitration organizations in the world.

By 2003, the CIETAC had accepted and settled over 8,000 foreign arbitration cases and almost 1,000 domestic arbitration cases, the parties of which covered some 40 countries and regions. The arbitrament of the CIETAC were accepted and performed in over 140 countries and regions.

The three-day ICCA conference was opened Sunday, with more than400 economic and legal experts from 47 countries attending the meeting.