Inaugurated and addressed by Jiang Bixin, Wang Weizhong and Du Hangwei

Briefed by Zhang Shuyuan and Pei Xianding

On the morning and afternoon of June 29, the First International Commercial Court and the Second International Commercial Court of the Supreme People's Court (SPC) were respectively inaugurated in Shenzhen and Xi'an, and started to operate officially. Justice Jiang Bixin, the Vice President of the SPC, under the authorization of Chief Justice Zhou Qiang, the President of the SPC, attended the inaugurations and delivered speeches, and inaugurated the tribunals respectively with Mr. Wang Weizhong, the Member of the Standing Committee of CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and the Secretary of CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee, and with Mr. Du Hangwei, the Member of the Standing Committee of CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee and the Secretary of Shaanxi Provincial Committee of Political and Legislative Affairs. Justice Pei Xianding, the Member of the Judicial Committee of SPC and the President of the First Circuit Court of the Supreme People's Court, and Justice Zhang Shuyuan, the Vice President of the SPC and the President of the Sixth Circuit Court of the Supreme People's Court, successively presided over the inaugurations and briefed the establishment of the International Commercial Courts.

Jiang Bixin pointed out that the establishment of International Commercial Courts of SPC is not only a significant reform deployment taken by the Central Party Committee led by Xi Jinping, but also a major initiative to strengthen international cooperation in rule of law in the new era and to provide fair and efficient judicial services and legal safeguard for the Belt and Road Initiative. The establishment of the International Commercial Courts is an important event in the history of foreign-related commercial trials and even the development of People's judication, which marks a new stage in serving and safeguarding the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative by the People's Courts.

Jiang Bixin emphasized that we should always adhere to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as a guide to promote the work of International Commercial Courts. We should apply and implement laws strictly and impartially so as to turn International Commercial Courts into a solid defender of fairness and justice, and a role model of China's judicial civilization. We should ensure that the court decision of each case can stand the test of law and history by taking facts as the basis and laws as the criteria, and by trying cases independently and impartially. We should implement the principle of diversified dispute resolution methods, and support international commercial disputes to be resolved through mediation, arbitration and other methods of resolution. We should provide judicial support to international commercial arbitral bodies, international commercial mediation bodies and provide all parties with high-quality and efficient legal services. We should share the spirit of mutual communication and collaboration, strengthen the international judicial exchange, make full use of the International Commercial Experts Committee which is a new mode of international legal cooperation, and promote the continuous improvement and progress of the international commercial law system. On top of the achievements of the Smart Court, we should establish the legal database of countries in the Belt and Road Initiative and centers for foreign law ascertainment as soon as possible, and strengthen the information management and big data analysis of cases involving the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative to ensure correct and consistent judgments. We should ensure full and strict governance over the Party, further promote the standardization, specialization and professionalization of the teams of International Commercial Courts, always pay more attention to the construction of a clean government and a high standard of working morals, and establish a good judicial image of International Commercial Courts.

Pei Xianding pointed out that the First International Commercial Court has a unique locational advantage in promoting the construction of the Great Bay Area of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, and is an important economic zone for the Maritime Silk Road. The First International Commercial Court should carry forward reform and innovation, and act as a pioneer of reform and innovation to continuously modernize the international commercial judicial system and competence. We should adapt to the practical needs of international commercial trials in the new era, innovate the judicial mechanism, and optimize the trial process so as to provide “Chinese wisdom” for the resolution of cross-border international commercial disputes.

Zhang Shuyuan pointed out that Xi'an is located at the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, which is the key node of trade and culture between East and West. Xi’an is also a new highland of inland reform and opening-up, so the Second International Commercial Court has favorable geographical advantages and social environment by choosing to locate in Xi’an. We should make the best of the unique historical culture and realistic advantages of Xi'an, and properly resolve the international commercial disputes related to the Silk Road. We should carry forward the spirit of reform and innovation in building the Second International Commercial Court, give full play to the advantages of International Commercial Courts in the dispute resolution mechanism concerning the Belt and Road Initiative, and try to resolve the commercial disputes so as to create a stable, fair, transparent and predictable business environment under the rule of law. We should equally protect the legal rights and interest of both the Chinese and foreign parties, diversify channels for Chinese and foreign markets participants to resolve international commercial disputes equally, fairly, professionally, efficiently, transparently and conveniently and with low costs.

Wang Weizhong, on behalf of CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, Guangdong Provincial Government, CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee and Shenzhen Municipal Government, extended his congratulations to the establishment of the First International Commercial Court. He said that under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the spirits of the 19th National Congress of CPC, Shenzhen will fully implement the Opinions on the Establishment of International Commercial Dispute Resolution Mechanism and Institutions Concerning the Belt and Road Initiative, fully support and cooperate with First International Commercial Court, and proactively serve and guarantee a good working and living environment and speed up the construction of the Chinese Model City under the Rule of Law.

Du Hangwei, on behalf of CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee, Shaanxi Provincial Government, extended his congratulations to the establishment of the Second International Commercial Court. He said that since the release of the Opinions on the Establishment of International Commercial Dispute Resolution Mechanism and Institutions Concerning the Belt and Road Initiative by the Office of the Central Party Committee and the Office of State Council, CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee and Shaanxi Provincial Government highly values it and required the relevant departments and offices to provide support and guarantee. Shaanxi’s related departments and offices will earnestly implement the deployment of the CPC, in accordance with the requirements of the SPC, to serve, support and guarantee the smooth operation of the Second International Commercial Court.

Guests attending the inaugurations of the two International Commercial Courts, respectively, includes Gong Jiali, President of Guangdong Higher People's Court, Li Zhi, President of Shaanxi Higher People's Court, the chief executives of CPC Committee of Political and Legislative Affairs, NPC supervision and Judicial Committee, National Development and Reform Commission, CCPIT and the relevant authorities, some NPC deputies, CPPCC members, the relevant chief executives of CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee, Shenzhen Municipal Government, Qianhai Authority and Luohu District, the relevant chief executives of CPC Xi'an Municipal Committee, Xi'an National Civil Aerospace Industry Base, and the chief executives of the related departments of the Supreme People's Court. 

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*The original text is Chinese and has been translated into English for reference only. If there is any inconsistency or ambiguity between the Chinese version and the English version, the Chinese version shall prevail.