Shanghai to improve foreign-related judicial capacity

The financial district of Pudong New Area. [Photo by Gao Erqiang/China Daily]

Shanghai will further improve its foreign-related judicial system and enhance its foreign-related judicial capacity at its courts, according to a new document released by the Shanghai Higher People's Court on Wednesday.

The move is aimed at supporting Pudong district's efforts to aid the country's socialist modernization.

The document, which contains 39 measures, stated that the court system must improve its mechanism of foreign-related commercial adjudication.

"Foreign-related commercial lawsuits within the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone and the Lingang Special Area will be handled at designated departments and Foreign Investment Law and its judicial interpretation are to be put into effect accurately," read the document.

The document also called for innovations to diversify resolution mechanism for international commercial disputes.

"We must improve the one-stop dispute resolution platform that connects mediation, arbitration and litigation for foreign-related commercial disputes. Also, we support well-known arbitration and commercial dispute resolution institutions from overseas to establish business offices in Pudong to support the district's efforts to become a top-notch international center for commercial dispute resolution," read the statement.

All these measures are also aimed at helping construct a world-class business environment in Pudong, according to experts.

The document also stated that courts need to research the application of law concerning new situations in maritime justice, such as shipping finance, international shipping, international ship registration management, and international shipping economy, and promote the construction of an international maritime justice center with strong international influence.

Shanghai courts have been handling increasing numbers of foreign-related cases over the past years. In 2021, the number of new foreign-related cases reached 3,429, a year-on-year increase of 6.33 percent.