Trials climb as economy slows down

HARBIN: The number of court trials has climbed by 8 percent in the first six months of this year, amid the global financial crisis and increasing mass incidents.

Chief Justice Wang Shengjun said courts handled 10.7 million cases last year, up 10.91 percent on the previous year's data. He said there had been an 8 percent increase in the first half of 2009, compared to the same period last year.

The top judge said the country is in a critical transition period, full of golden opportunities for economic and social development and also at a time of frequent social disputes.