A conference on the work of circuit courts of the Supreme People's Court is held on Feb 3, 2023 in Beijing. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

Zhou Qiang, president of the Supreme People's Court (SPC), attended a conference on the work of the circuit courts of China's top court on Feb 3 in Beijing.

In his speech, Zhou acknowledged that progress has been made by the six circuit courts of the SPC in serving the nation's key strategies, meeting diversified public judicial needs, and promoting judgment enforcement since their establishment. 

The circuit courts took the initiative in advancing reform of the judiciary's operations, and focused on solving the conflict involving complaint letters and visits, he noted.

Zhou Qiang, president of the Supreme People's Court, speaks at the conference on Feb 3, 2023. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

Zhou urged efforts to fully implement the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), understand the new situations and tasks faced by the circuit courts, and advance high-quality development of SPC circuit court work. 

He called for upholding the Party's absolute leadership over judicial work and following a path of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics. 

Judicial power should be exercised by lower-level courts so as to effectively resolve conflicts and disputes, and constantly solve the most pressing difficulties of high concern to the people, Zhou stressed. 

The SPC head also emphasized reform and development of circuit courts, including the need to improve their system and mechanism, regulate and strengthen trial supervision and management, promote the uniform application of laws, optimize supportive measures, and constantly boost the quality and efficiency of trials and judicial credibility. 

The training, selection, and management of and incentives for court personnel should be improved, Zhou added. 

For those SPC judges designated to work in circuit courts, Zhou encouraged them to strengthen their sense of responsibility and mission, firm up their ideals and beliefs, seize the time to learn, actively participate in reform and practice, and strictly abide by disciplines and rules.