Beijing eyes becoming a leading global hub for resolving intl commercial disputes

Beijing is striving to establish itself as a leading venue for resolving international commercial disputes, emphasizing equal protection for both domestic and foreign litigants, an official from the city's top court said on Friday.

Jin Xuejun, vice-president and spokesman of the Beijing High People's Court, noted that since its establishment in December 2021, the Beijing International Commercial Tribunal has resolved over 6,000 foreign-related disputes, with the total value of these cases surpassing 60 billion yuan ($8.5 billion).

To efficiently resolve disputes, the tribunal has enlisted the help of seven organizations and 18 expert mediators as its think tank. Additionally, it has strengthened its support and oversight of arbitration to boost the international credibility of commercial arbitration in the country, according to Jin, who is also a spokesperson for the high court.

Jin also revealed that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), the capital's courts tackled more than 4.76 million cases, with over 4.52 million concluded.

Emphasizing a people-centered approach in handling cases, he said that courts throughout the city have addressed 348,000 disputes concerning people's livelihoods over the past five years, including those related to employment, healthcare, nursing care, and education, while enhancing convenience for litigants to access legal services.

"For example, we've opened quick channels for residents to recover child support payments and held over 2,000 court sessions in the evenings to accommodate working individuals," he said.

Additionally, Jin noted that the capital's courts concluded 302,000 intellectual property cases during the period, contributing to promoting digital development and technological innovation.