The opening ceremony of the 2017 International Mediation Summit is held in Hangzhou on Sept 19.[Photo/Dushikuaibao]

The opening ceremony of the 2017 International Mediation Summit was held in Hangzhou on Sept 19.

The summit, hosted by Hangzhou municipal government and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, aims to promote the widespread application of mediation in resolving international commercial conflicts.

Nearly 400 prominent legal professionals from the US, UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland attended the event.

Chen Liaomin, vice president of the People's Court of Hangzhou's West Lake district, made an impressive speech on Hangzhou's Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform, which was trialed in her court this March.

The ODR platform, which integrates big data and "Internet Plus" into legal mediation, was highly praised by the summit participants for its cost-effectiveness, efficiency, agility and openness.

A total of 4,452 mediators, 1,438 consultants, three arbitration agencies and 20 district courts have already joined the platform, ensuring that it is able to meet current demand for mediation.

Users can choose their own consultants and make inquiries through video, voice and text. They can also make online assessments of their legal cases and apply for online mediation.

Thanks to the interconnectedness of different modules within the platform, all the data that users have left in any module can be stored and combined.

"The fast development of the internet, big data, cloud computing and other advanced technologies have provided strong support for the ODR. We need to learn from the valuable experience accumulated by other countries in this regard. And we expect to contribute 'Chinese wisdom' to developing the ODR worldwide," said Chen.

A panel discusses the ODR platform at the summit in Hangzhou on Sept 19.[Photo/Dushikuaibao]