He Rong, vice-president of the Supreme People's Court (SPC), stressed the need to improve foreign-related judicial capacity in order to propel the high-quality development of foreign-related trial work.

She made those remarks on Sept 28, at a symposium on handling of the prioritized suggestions submitted to the Fifth Session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) on enhancing foreign-related judicial capacity and strengthening the building of resolution centers for international commercial disputes, under the supervision of related departments.

She noted that the suggestions involved key frontline issues in the law-based governance of the nation's foreign-related areas. Efforts are needed to fully implement the Foreign Investment Law and its implementation regulations, abide by international treaties, and respect international practices, she said. The principle of equal protection according to the law should be adhered to, and equal litigation status and rights, and equal application and protection of the law between Chinese and foreign parties should be ensured, in order to promote the building of a market-oriented, law-based and international business environment, she added.

She also said that in-depth research is needed on new challenges arising from areas such as cross-border e-commerce, cross-border mergers of enterprises and assets, financial derivatives investment, and the protection of the rights of medium, small and micro-sized enterprises that have gone global. The SPC's International Commercial Tribunal should be fully leveraged, the one-stop diversified dispute resolution mechanism for international matters should be improved, and continued explorations are needed to optimize the jurisdiction and services of foreign-related cases, the identification of extraterritorial laws, and cross-border litigation services, according to He.

She called for intensified judicial services for the high-quality development of key initiatives, including the Belt and Road, free trade pilot zones, free trade ports and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. She also stressed the need to deepen international judicial exchanges and cooperation, and proactively participate in the reform and development of global governance, adding that whole-process people's democracy needs to be fully implemented in responding to suggestions and turning them into real achievements in improving foreign-related trials.

The symposium was held both online and offline. NPC deputies and officials from related departments, including the NPC's Supervision and Judicial Committee, the General Office of the NPC Standing Committee, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Justice, attended the symposium.