Foreigners to get better legal service

China's top judge has asked the courts to improve the legal environment through better handling of disputes involving foreigners, particularly in the marine sector, as the country opens wider to the outside world and tries hard to attract overseas enterprises.

Zhou Qiang, president of the Supreme People's Court, said it is important for such cases to be heard in China, as the number has been growing over the past few years, an indication of China's growing integration into the world economy.

Among the cases involving foreigners, many are related to disputes on the sea, Zhou said.