China's top court issues guideline to back development of new land-sea trade corridor

To support the development of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, China's top court has issued a guideline aimed at optimizing legal services and enhancing the quality of dispute resolution in related areas such as construction, logistics, and investment.

The guideline, released by the Supreme People's Court on Monday, also calls for strengthened judicial capacity in finance, intellectual property, and environmental protection.

This is the first judicial guideline specifically targeting the corridor's construction, according to Wang Shumei, a standing member of the top court's Adjudication Committee.

Launched in 2017, the corridor is a collaborative trade and logistics route involving western Chinese provinces and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Previous data showed that as of early March, the corridor has connected 158 locations across 73 domestic cities and reached 556 ports in 127 countries and regions. Under its development plan, an efficient, green, and safe trade route will be built by the end of this year.

The guideline emphasizes high-quality case adjudication, optimized legal services, and easier access to foreign-related commercial litigation for litigants. It also highlights the need to boost legal talent education and international exchanges, ensuring equal protection for all litigants regardless of their origin.

"In response to the increasing complexity of cases in the new era, such as those involving cross-border e-commerce, financial innovation, and overseas investment, we will conduct in-depth research on relevant legal standards and cutting-edge issues in line with the guideline," said Wang Haifeng, deputy chief judge of the top court's Fourth Civil Division.

Efforts will also be made to facilitate cross-border data flows, supply chain finance, and RMB business to support high-level opening-up through high-quality judicial services, he added.