SPC: Green practices in BRI cases important

China's top court has emphasized the importance of green practices in cases related to the Belt and Road Initiative, as part of efforts to promote high-quality development at home and sustainable growth globally.

Recently, the Supreme People's Court released six typical cases related to the BRI, highlighting the need to make green development a key consideration in resolving disputes. The cases demonstrate how judicial proceedings can support the initiative's long-term sustainability and credibility.

The SPC highlighted the green principle enshrined in the Civil Code, which provides a legal basis for addressing environmental concerns. The Ecological and Environmental Code further promotes green and low-carbon development and emphasizes global environmental governance, aiming to strengthen international cooperation on environmental protection.

"The BRI has entered a phase of high-quality development," the SPC said. "Promoting green development in BRI projects aligns with the central leadership's requirements on environmental protection and the rule of law, and is an important step toward addressing climate change and safeguarding global ecological security."

The court added that the approach would help deepen exchanges and cooperation under the BRI, foster harmony between humanity and nature, and contribute to global sustainable development goals.

One of the six cases involved a Chinese solar equipment seller that contracted a logistics company to transport goods to Germany. After the buyer collected the shipment without paying the outstanding balance, the logistics company was held liable for the resulting loss.

In this case, a new energy company in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, sold a solar power system to a German trading company. The buyer paid a 20 percent deposit, with the remaining 80 percent due upon presentation of the bill of lading.

The Wuxi company hired a logistics firm in Wuhan, Hubei province, to transport the goods from Wuxi to Duisburg, Germany, via the China-Europe freight train service. Under their agreement, the logistics company was to release the cargo only after confirming receipt of the outstanding payment. However, the German buyer collected the goods without paying the balance. In August 2023, the Wuxi company sued the logistics firm for releasing the cargo without authorization.

After hearing the case, a court in Wuhan ruled that the logistics company, acting as a multimodal transport operator, had breached its contractual obligations by releasing the goods without authorization. It ordered the firm to pay 380,000 yuan ($56,890) in damages, after deducting the freight charges owed by the Wuxi company.

The Wuhan court's ruling was upheld by the Hubei High People's Court in August 2025, despite the logistics company's appeal.

The SPC described the case as a typical example of a dispute over a green transport international freight forwarding contract under the BRI.

"China has prioritized green transport in promoting BRI cooperation. The China-Europe freight train service, a vital logistics corridor, uses smart scheduling and new energy technologies to reduce energy consumption and emissions, connecting industrial parks and logistics hubs," the SPC said.

The court said the ruling not only safeguards cross-border transactions involving green energy products but also helps integrate China's green logistics sector more closely into high-quality BRI cooperation. It provides a practical example of how judicial services can support cross-border transport in green energy supply chains.

The five other cases highlight the role of mediation in resolving environmental disputes related to the BRI. By encouraging judges to use mediation where appropriate, the SPC aims to settle disputes efficiently while supporting the initiative's high-quality development.

caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn