The Seventh Social Sciences Roundtable: Issues relating to International Investment Arbitration under the Situation of COVID-19 Epidemic was successfully held online on May 8, 2020. The roundtable was jointly sponsored by CASS Institute of International Law and China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission and attended by government officials, scholars and lawyers from the Treaty and Law Department of the Ministry of Commerce, China Arbitration Law Society, Peking University, Zhongshan University, Beijing Huanzhong and Partners, Global Law Office, Zhonglun Law Office, and Dechert LLP.

At the opening ceremony, presided over by Professor Liu Jingdong, head of the International Economic Law Department of CASS Institute of International Law and a specially invited consultant at the Supreme People’s Court, opening remarks were given by Professor Mo Jihong, director of CASS Institute of International Law, and Mr. Li Hu, Vice Secretary General of China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission.

At the roundtable, which was divided into two units, the participants gave presentations and carried out discussions on various issues around the following two topics: “common types of international investment dispute and the possibility of arbitral jurisdiction” and “ways of initiation of investment arbitration by the investor and the defense and response by the host state”.

At the closing ceremony, presided over by Dr. Mao Xiaofei, an assistant research fellow at CASS Institute of International Law, concluding remarks were given by Professor Liu Huawen, deputy director of CASS Institute of International Law, and Mr. Gu Yan, vice president of the Arbitration Court of China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission.