Maritime courts play an important role in providing judicial guarantees for international shipping and international trade, according to Luo Dongchuan, vice-president of the Supreme People's Court (SPC), who was speaking at a maritime judicial conference in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, on Nov 22.

At the meeting, Luo said this year marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up. The maritime court is a result of the policy.

Courts responsible for maritime trials have maintained international trade and promoted the passing and optimization of the Maritime Law and the Special Maritime Procedure Law.

Luo required courts to build professional judge groups for maritime trials and adopt the split-flow model, which diverts complicated and simple cases into different channels, to improve judicial efficiency and quality.

He also mentioned that an international maritime judicial center should be constructed to increase international judicial exchange and cooperation.

The China-ASEAN Justice Forum and the UK-China Judicial Roundtable are platforms to promote China's maritime judicial system and to improve China's influence in international judiciary circles.

Luo stressed that maritime courts at various levels should highly value information construction and adopt high-tech procedures in civil litigation and international commercial dispute settlement mechanisms.

Courts are also encouraged to exchange their judicial experience, develop cooperation and share information through the China maritime trial platform built by the SPC.

Luo also visited the Ningbo Maritime Court and the Ningbo Intermediate People's Court and inspected the Automatic Identification System used to handle problems such as checking and detaining ships involved in litigation.

He then went to the controlling center at Ningbo Portwhere he looked into the development of the WeChat mini program through which users can learn about litigation processes and take part in their cases onine.