Top court launches online legal platform on foreign laws

The top court launched an online platform on Friday to help judges and other judicial authorities quickly make clear foreign laws while handling foreign-related cases.

The Foreign Law Ascertainment Platform on cicc. court.gov.cn - the website of the International Commercial Court under the Supreme People's Court -is open to not only judges, litigants, lawyers and cross-bordered business agencies and enterprises, but also to those who need to understand foreign laws, including legislative authorities, arbitration institutions and government departments.

In the past, it was difficult for judges in China to find out and make clear foreign laws when they heard foreign-related marine or commercial disputes in which the application of certain foreign laws needed to be considered.

To solve the problem, the top court is operating the platform by working with foreign law ascertainment centers or study bases under several universities and colleges, including those with Wuhan University and China University of Political Sciences and Law, as well as by joining hands with 31 commercial law experts from 14 countries and regions, according to the Supreme People's Court.

The platform lists detailed contact information of these foreign law ascertainment centers and experts. Anyone who needs the service can apply either online or through the contact info.

"The aim (of such a platform) is to offer high-quality and more efficient legal services for courts across the country and other industries that need to figure out foreign laws," the top court said in a news release.

The platform also includes a database on foreign-related lawsuits. More than 50 rulings have been uploaded so far.

The top court said it also plans to set up a database to help people search legal data, legal reports and law ascertainment information on countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.