A court in eastern China's Zhejiang province opened a new liaison office in Italy on Aug 1, aiming to facilitate legal conciliation and dispute-solving processes.

Ouhai District People's Court in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, declared the opening of its second overseas contact office in Milan, Italy, through a teleconference, and launched a recruitment campaign for overseas mediators and communicators.

The court set up its first overseas liaison office in Paris, France, in October of 2015, which offers services related to lawsuits for overseas Chinese.

So far, the office has investigated and solved two disputes concerning overseas Chinese, and has provided judicial aid for about 20 cases.

"Setting up liaison offices in overseas Chinese settlements helps to expand the diversified mediation mechanism, shortens processing, and reduces costs," said Zhou Hong, head of the court. "In short, it improves efficiency."

According to Zhou, since 2011, about 77 percent of the cases involving overseas Chinese have been family disputes. The overseas offices get closer to the clients and receive more accurate information about the conflicts before effectively dealing with such cases.

A video conference connects the court in Wenzhou to the office in Milan. [Photo by Yu Jianhua and Lin Zhiqiang/People's Court Daily]

The chairman of overseas Chinese federation in Milan (right) receives a letter of appointment. [Photo by Yu Jianhua and Lin Zhiqiang/People's Court Daily]

A real-time court hearing and conciliation with the Paris-based office. [Photo by Yu Jianhua and Lin Zhiqiang/People's Court Daily]

A client involved in a child-rearing dispute in the Paris-based office on July 25. [Photo by Yu Jianhua and Lin Zhiqiang/People's Court Daily]