为了更好地发挥司法的示范和引领作用，营造国际一流营商环境，服务和保障国家战略实施，我们发布中英文双语版的《江苏法院涉外商事审判(2014-2019)》白皮书，向国内外展示江苏法院涉外商事审判工作成绩和经验，分析开放型经济高质量发展提出的新要求，谋划江苏法院涉外商事审判工作在新时代的发展方向和工作重点。
江苏法院涉外商事审判
Foreign-related Commercial Trials of Jiangsu Courts
(2014-2019)
江苏省高级人民法院
High People’s Court of Jiangsu Province
2019年12月
December 2019
特别说明
《江苏法院涉外商事审判（2014-2019）》白皮书以中英两种文字发布，以中文文本为准。
Special Remarks
This paper is published in both Chinese and English. The Chinese version shall be authoritative for interpretation purposes.
前 言
随着改革开放的不断深入，“一带一路”建设、自由贸易试验区建设的有力推进，涉外商事审判的社会关注度、需求度不断提升。江苏地处“一带一路”交汇区域，跨境投资频繁，对外经贸往来活跃，实际使用外资数额多年位居全国第一，货物进出口总额连续16年保持全国第二位。中国（江苏）自由贸易实验区也已落成。与此相应，江苏法院也审理了大量的涉外涉港澳台商事案件。近年来，江苏各级法院在党委领导和人大监督下，在最高人民法院指导和社会各界支持下，积极应对全面开放中的新情况新问题，实施审判精品战略，充分发挥涉外商事审判职能作用，引导和规范投资贸易行为，平等保护中外当事人合法权益，为营造法治化、国际化、便利化营商环境作出积极努力，各项工作均取得了新的成效。为此，我们发布本次江苏法院涉外商事审判白皮书，展现江苏法院服务和保障江苏全面开放新格局的相关工作情况，并对进一步推进涉外商事审判工作做了理论探索和实践展望。
江苏省高级人民法院
2019年12月
一、江苏法院涉外商事审判的基本情况及特点
（一）涉外商事案件的基本情况
1.涉外商事案件数量总体平衡，呈现稳步上升的趋势
2014年至2019年10月底，江苏法院共受理一审涉外商事案件7548件（其中涉外案件3615件，涉港澳台案件3933件），受理二审涉外商事案件833件（其中涉外案件481件，涉港澳台案件352件），受理案件数稳中有升（见图表1）；共审结涉外商事案件8107件。另外，2014年至2019年10月底，江苏法院还办理司法协助案件6286件（其中承认和执行外国判决、仲裁裁决，港澳台法院判决、仲裁裁决案件113件)；审理仲裁司法审查案件6788件。
图表1 近六年江苏法院涉外商事案件收案情况
2.涉外商事案件数量地区分布不均衡，区域差异较大
江苏各地法院受理涉外商事案件的数量悬殊较大，分布极不均衡（见图表2）。其中苏州、南京、无锡法院受理案件数量位居前三，占江苏法院涉外商事案件数的64.96%。涉外商事案件的收案数量折射了一个地区经济对外交流活跃程度。例如，苏州作为江苏外向型经济的代表，直接表现为涉外商事案件数量众多，涉外商事审判任务较重。
图表2 近六年江苏各地法院涉外商事案件收案情况
3.纠纷类型多样，案由相对集中
江苏法院受理的涉外商事案件涉及210种具体案由，主要包括借款合同、国际货物买卖合同、进出口代理合同、股权转让纠纷、公司解散纠纷、信用证纠纷等，涵盖了跨境贸易、投资、金融等多个领域。纠纷类型的多样化，反映出江苏经济对外开放的广度不断扩展，跨境投资领域不断拓宽，对外经贸方式不断增加。要正确审理不同类型的涉外商事案件，不仅需要熟悉相关领域的法律法规，还要深入了解各行业的专业知识和交易惯例，审理难度逐渐加大。虽然涉外商事案件类型多样，但案由相对集中（见图表3）。国际货物买卖、金融借款、股权转让、融资租赁等纠纷始终占涉外商事案件数的较大比例。
图表3 近六年江苏法院涉外商事案件
主要案件类型及占比
4.涉外主体地域分布广泛，涉港澳台案件数量较多
近六年来，江苏法院受理涉外国当事人案件为4096件，占涉外、涉港澳台案件总数的49.0%。当事人来自美国、英国、日本、韩国、新加坡、英属维尔京群岛等一百多个国家和地区，其中一半以上的案件主体涉及美国、英国、新加坡等传统贸易伙伴国，这表明江苏与世界经济一体化的融合不断深化。江苏法院受理涉港澳台商事案件总数为4285，约占涉外、涉港澳台案件总数的51.0%。江苏法院受理涉台商事纠纷2181件，占到了涉外、涉港澳台商事案件总数的26%（见图表4）。江苏是台商在大陆投资最多、台资企业最为密集的地区之一。苏台各领域交流合作不断深化，苏台经贸往来密切，投资和贸易频繁,因此江苏法院受理的涉台案件也较多。
图表4 近六年江苏法院涉外商事案件
涉及的国家和地区
5.涉外商事案件总标的额较大，个案差异明显
近六年来，江苏法院涉外商事案件收案标的额超过800亿元。2014年至2019年10月底，涉外商事案件平均收案标的额分别为578.30万、764.73万、1051.38万、828.31万、1062.32万、1448.70万，呈明显上升的趋势（见图表5）。个案最高标的额达26亿元，最少的则只有几万元，个案之间悬殊巨大。涉外商事案件标的额总数的增高，在一定程度上反映江苏跨境投资、贸易活跃度不断上升，对解决纠纷的司法需求也在不断增加。
图表5 近六年江苏法院涉外商事案件平均收案标的
6.涉外商事案件审判质量良好，发改率较低
近六年来，江苏法院一审涉外商事案件判决结案总数为3732件，约占案件总数的49.45%；调撤案件数为3363件，调撤率为44.56%。近六年来，一审涉外商事案件调撤率基本保持稳定（见图表6）。涉外商事一审服判息诉率82.9%，上诉率为11.04%，二审发改率为0.7%，案件审判质量总体良好。因向境外送达等因素，审理期限较长，近六年来涉外商事案件平均审理期限为257天。
图表6 近六年江苏法院涉外商事案件调撤率
（二）江苏法院涉外商事案件的新特点
开放是江苏发展的鲜明特色。江苏法院涉外商事案件也具有一些与江苏开放型经济水平高相适应的新特点。
1.涉“一带一路”沿线国家案件增长明显
在“一带一路”建设倡议提出之后，江苏作为“一带一路”交汇点，与沿线国家的人员和经贸往来愈加频繁，随之而来的商事纠纷也越来越多。据统计，近六年来，江苏法院审理的涉外商事案件中涉及到一半以上的“一带一路”沿线国家，而涉“一带一路”沿线国家的商事案件总和，又约占江苏法院审理涉外商事案件（涉港澳台商事案件除外）总数30%。
2.新型案件不断涌现
在江苏法院涉外商事审判中，国际银团贷款、信用证欺诈、独立保函欺诈、融资租赁、股权回购、企业估值调整协议等新型案件不断增多，且整体诉讼标的金额较高。这一现象从侧面反映了随着实行高水平的贸易和投资自由化便利化政策，金融领域的开放、创新日益活跃。
3.涉外商事案件程序性问题凸现
从总体上来看，涉外商事案件呈现出事实查明困难、外国法适用难、涉外送达难等程序性的问题。涉外商事案件审理周期较长，不利于及时高效地化解纠纷，维护当事人合法权益。
4. 外商投资类纠纷高发
2016年，全国人大常委会修改了“外资三法”，对外商管理体制实行负面清单管理制改革，大幅提高外商投资的便利化。近年来，外商投资企业隐名股东请求显名纠纷、股权转让纠纷等案件不断涌现。近六年来，江苏法院共审理外商投资企业纠纷1313件。对这类案件，全省法院坚持结合委托投资协议和资金流向的事实，努力查明当事人真实意思，平等保护中外当事人的投资权益，增强外商对江苏法治化营商环境的信心。
5.信用证、独立保函纠纷较多
江苏企业在进出口贸易、承接海外工程等领域大量使用信用证、独立保函作为支付手段和融资工具。近六年来，江苏法院共新收涉外信用证、独立保函纠纷一审案件50余件。信用证、独立保函纠纷标的额大，社会和行业关注度高，且需要适用国际惯例、银行金融实务，人民法院能否正确处理该类纠纷，与我国企业、金融机构的海外信用状况，以及“一带一路”建设等国家战略的顺利推进密切相关。
6.企业“走出去”纠纷增多
近六年来，江苏法院共新收涉外建设工程合同纠纷一审案件54件。海外基础设施建设作为中国企业“走出去”的重要一环在“一带一路”建设中占据重要地位，但由于工程所在国往往地缘政治复杂，经济发展水平不一，法治环境差异大，由此引发的国际建设工程纠纷也不断增多。国际工程案件在管辖权、合同效力、工程款的结算、外国法查明等领域存在疑难问题，处理难度较大。
7.国际司法协助需求增加
随着“一带一路”建设的推进，各国加强承认和执行法院判决、仲裁裁决领域的国际合作，实现判决、裁决的自由流动，可以减轻当事人讼累，节约司法资源，维护法律关系的稳定。但是，“一带一路”沿线国家国际商事仲裁理念复杂多元，法律制度处于不同的发展阶段，这些特点决定了在“一带一路”建设推进过程中，国际商事诉讼和仲裁存在很大的风险和不确定性。
二、江苏法院涉外商事审判工作成效
（一）深入实施精品战略，狠抓执法办案第一要务
精品战略是最高人民法院为全面提升涉外商事审判的司法公信力，于2010年1月提出并一直实施的一项系统工程。江苏法院充分认识涉外商事审判精品战略的重要性，以抓好执法办案为重要落脚点，着力打造精品案件。一是各项审判质效数据始终保持良性运行。一审服判息诉率达82.9%，二审发改率为0.7%，每年结收案比均在90%以上。二是江苏法院审理了一批有重大影响的精品案件。江苏太湖锅炉股份有限公司与印尼卡拉卡托工程有限公司、中国银行股份有限公司无锡分行保函欺诈纠纷案，高尔集团申请承认和执行新加坡高等法院判决案分别入选最高人民法院公布的第一批、第二批涉“一带一路”建设典型案例。美国《跟单信用证世界》用封面专题文章重点分别介绍了江苏法院审理的远东电缆有限公司与卡塔尔PLI、中国银行无锡分行保函欺诈纠纷案等案件。三是国际司法合作取得新进展。一方面，近年来，江苏法院共有六个判决、裁定在没有司法协助条约的情况下，得到澳大利亚、以色列、美国、新加坡等国的承认和执行，这在全国法院中是最多的。另一方面，江苏法院依据法律提供司法协助，展现人民法院开放包容的司法态度。南京中院裁定承认和执行新加坡高等法院关于高尔集团股份有限公司诉江苏省纺织工业（集团）进出口有限公司买卖合同纠纷一案的判决，被认为是中国法院适用互惠原则的里程碑。江苏法院还积极深化区际司法互助，丰富“一国两制”背景下的司法实践。2019年11月27日，连云港中级人民法院根据《关于内地与香港特别行政区法院就仲裁程序相互协助保全的安排》，成功协助香港国际仲裁中心在连云港市完成财产保全。2016年12月，南京市中级人民法院裁定执行中国国际经济贸易仲裁委员会香港仲裁中心作出的仲裁裁决，这也是国内仲裁机构在境外作出的仲裁裁决首次获得内地法院执行。
（二）主动服务大局，保障国家重大战略实施
围绕江苏“一带一路”建设交汇点的定位，江苏法院主动回应“一带一路”建设司法需求，营造公平、透明、可预期的法治化营商环境。一是江苏法院积极加强新闻宣传工作。省法院召开服务保障“一带一路”建设新闻发布会，通报江苏法院的主要做法，公布十大典型案例。二是大力加强涉外商事纠纷调查研究。近年来，江苏法院完成了《独立保函法律问题研究》《信用证欺诈止付法律适用问题研究》等一批省法学会、全省法院重点调研课题成果。在《人民司法》上发表了《江苏法院着力提升涉外商事审判司法公信力，服务和保障“一带一路”建设》文章，总结了江苏法院服务保障“一带一路”建设的实践探索，归纳了司法规则体系。三是积极出台相关司法意见。江苏各级法院找准结合点，推出服务保障的具体举措。省法院印发《关于精心打造高质量司法服务和保障江苏高质量发展走在前列的实施意见》，积极护航“一带一路”建设。连云港中院公布《关于护航“一带一路”交汇点核心区先导区建设的十二条意见》，入选《人民法院报》评选的地方法院服务保障“一带一路”建设六项典型举措。连云港中院成立全国首个“一带一路”巡回法庭，与南京、苏州等省内外21个“一带一路”沿线地市中级人民法院和海事法院，签署《服务保障新亚欧陆海联运通道建设司法协作框架协议》。
（三）创新审判工作机制，提升涉外商事审判司法公信力
江苏法院结合涉外商事审判工作实际，加强涉外商事司法能力现代化建设。一是积极拓展外国法的查明途径。省法院建立江苏法院外国法查明专家库，邀请国内外三十多位中外法律专家担任外国法查明专家，为人民法院查明和适用外国法提供帮助；还制定了《关于外国法查明专家库的管理办法（试行）》，规范外国法查明专家的选任、使用。二是探索建设多元化纠纷解决机制。为了更好推动淮安台资企业产业转移集聚服务示范区、昆山深化两岸产业合作试验区建设，淮安法院、昆山法院完善审理机制，为台湾同胞提供优质高效的司法服务保障。2018年，淮安中院与市台办共同制定下发《关于加强涉台矛盾纠纷诉调对接工作的实施意见》，成立诉调对接办公室，形成工作整体合力。昆山市人民法院与当地台办、台协共同签订了《关于加强涉台案件调处工作的意见》，选聘特邀调解员30名，参与化解涉台商事纠纷。昆山法院的涉台案件调撤率每年均保持在60%以上，远高于一般涉外商事案件的调撤率。三是进一步完善司法协助机制。省法院将司法协助归口到民四庭办理，并确定专人负责，严格规范司法协助的办理程序，探索建立送达文书的外文翻译格式文本库，用大数据来确定预留开庭时间，压缩送达周期，提高送达效率，确保各个节点均可追溯，提高司法协助的成功率。
（四）依法支持仲裁，建立仲裁司法审查案件归口审理机制
2015年2月，江苏法院就开始探索建立仲裁司法审查案件归口审理机制，将仲裁司法审查案件统一归口到涉外商事审判庭审理，优化审判资源配置，统一司法尺度。江苏法院的仲裁司法审查案件归口审理机制有以下特点：一是建立最为完整的归口审理机制。江苏法院将确认仲裁协议效力案件、申请撤销仲裁裁决案件、不予执行仲裁裁决异议案件、涉及仲裁协议的管辖权异议案件，以及承认和执行外国仲裁裁决案件全部统一归口到涉外商事审判庭审理。二是规范仲裁司法审查案件的审理程序。参照一审程序进行审查，向当事人送达申请书副本，并组织当事人进行听证等。三是严格把握审查标准。牢固树立支持与监督并重的司法理念，切实维护仲裁裁决的终局性。近年来，各中级法院上报的拟不予执行、撤销仲裁裁决和确认仲裁协议无效案件，有近一半省法院未予核准。
（五）加强队伍建设，夯实涉外商事海事审判人才基础
江苏法院高度重视涉外商事法官的专业化建设，采取多种举措，提升法官的综合素养。一是加强专业审判机构建设。省法院在2019年初成立了民事审判第四庭，负责涉外商事审判、仲裁司法审查、国际司法协助等。全省十三个市中级人民法院均设立了专门审理涉外商事案件的审判庭，十一个拥有涉外商事案件管辖权的基层法院也分别设立了专门合议庭。二是加强专业培训。针对司法改革推进中，法官交流更加频繁的情况，江苏法院采取案件评查、上下级法院座谈会、专题培训等方式，巩固和提高涉外商事审判队伍的专业水平。省法院还选派审理经验丰富、理论功底扎实的资深法官到中级法院讲授涉外商事审判实务，让新加入涉外商事审判队伍的法官尽快熟悉业务。三是创新人才选拔培养机制。2019年，为了高水平地筹建南京海事法院，省法院从全省法院选拔24名优秀法官、法官助理赴兄弟海事法院进行跟案学习，还面向全国海事法院、全省法院和海事行政机关遴选法官和法官助理，为江苏法院储备海事审判人才。
三、江苏法院涉外商事审判工作面临的新情况
（一）开放型经济高质量发展对涉外商事审判提出新要求
习近平总书记赋予江苏“一带一路”交汇点的定位。江苏省委明确提出，必须抓住用好“一带一路”交汇点建设的重大机遇，推动“一带一路”建设、长江经济带发展、长三角区域一体化发展等国家战略在江苏叠加整合，更深层次融入世界经济大循环，加快培育对外开放新优势。今年9月，中国（江苏）自由贸易试验区正式成立。江苏省委娄勤俭书记提出，在新的历史方位推动江苏探索性、创新性、引领性发展，法治建设走在全国前列既是重要保障，也是应有之义。真正让法治成为江苏发展核心竞争力的重要标志。这要求江苏法院找准工作切入点，有效回应自贸试验区市场创新发展的新要求，充分发挥司法保障和引领作用，保证规则得以有效实施，巩固改革成果；树立大国司法理念，明晰裁判规则，依法妥善化解争端，平等保护中外当事人合法权益。
(二)全面深化改革、扩大开放对涉外商事审判提出新挑战
随着我国实行高水平的贸易和投资自由化便利化政策，持续放宽市场准入，提升投资自由化水平，各项改革措施逐步落地，新情况、新问题将不断涌现。例如，外商投资负面清单管理制度，对外资企业的设立、股权转让、解散等重大事项由审批制改为备案制，提高了外商投资的便利化，《外商投资法》也将代替“外资三法”。人民法院在审理股东身份确认，股权转让合同等案件时，既面临及时调整法律依据，协调法律和原有司法解释的衔接问题，还面临着对涉外交易的司法审查与行政监管相协调的问题。
(三)新产业新业态新模式对涉外商事审判提出新课题
以先进制造业、互联网+、创新创业、跨界综合管理等“三新”活动为基本出发点的新产业新业态新模式在我国飞速发展，在提供便利，优化资源配置的同时，也存在着无序竞争、信用道德风险等问题。例如，互联网P2P仲裁就是互联网+仲裁的创新，在实践中出现了损害普通消费者权益、无牌照以放贷为业、变相收取超高利息，甚至部分案件有“套路贷”嫌疑等问题，既损害了仲裁事业的健康发展，也损害了人民法院的司法公信力。
(四)南京海事法院设立为涉外商事审判开辟新领域
南京海事法院在2019年12月4日开始履行法定职责。海事审判对江苏法院而言是一个崭新的领域。海事法院处在对外开放的最前沿，事关群众切身利益，事关国家海洋权益、事关高水平对外开放。海事审判具有涉外因素多、专业性强、法律关系复杂、法律适用多元化、国际影响大的特点，尤其是许多案件需要适用国际条约、国际规则，对海事法官的素质能力提出了更高的要求。江苏是海洋大省、航运大省，江苏区域的海事海商案件不仅数量多，而且类型多样，疑难复杂案件会不断涌现。
四、江苏法院涉外商事审判工作展望
面对新形势，江苏法院涉外商事审判队伍必须牢固树立大局意识，强化使命担当，以高度的责任感和使命感，充分发挥审判职能作用，全面深化审判精品战略，以高质量的司法为国家重大战略的实施和江苏高质量发展走在全国前列提供坚实法治保障。
(一)提高政治站位，强化使命担当和责任意识
我国正处于推进新时代改革开放的重要时期，开放型经济深入发展，依法治国全面推进，人民法院涉外商事审判工作负有准确适用国际条约、国际惯例，平等保护中外当事人合法权益，营造国际一流营商环境的重要职责。当前国际经济政治格局深刻调整，涉外商事审判工作还肩负维护国家主权、安全和发展利益的特殊职能。营造公平公正的法治环境，有赖于人民法院公正高效审理涉基础设施建设、经贸往来、产业投资、货物运输等领域的跨境纠纷，以高质量的涉外商事审判服务和保障改革开放高质量。
(二)全面深化审判精品战略，提升涉外商事审判质效
一是要全面落实司法责任制，强化审判质效管理。全面推进以法官为中心、以审判业务需求为导向的新型审判团队建设。确立庭审中心主义，要做好庭前准备工作，切实提高庭审质量。规范审判流程管理，采取长期未结案件催办督办等措施，强化法院内部审判管理。二是要强化审判监督指导，统一裁判尺度。完善上下级法院沟通联系的工作机制，坚持重要信息和重大案件报告制度。做好改判、发回重审案件的沟通、交流等制度，统一裁判尺度。开展案件质量评查，通过座谈会集中反馈、下发评查报告等形式加强审判业务指导。三是要着力打造精品案件，切实发挥重大案件的国际影响力。人民法院的司法公信力要通过一个个具体案例来建立。要特别注重审理涉及国际条约惯例适用、确认新型商业规则、法律或政策调整、市场创新，社会和行业影响大的涉外商事案件，在重大法律问题上作出引领国际商事规则和有影响力的精品判决。
(三)加强调查研究，主动服务大局
一是善用法治思维主动研判大局，服务和保障全面开放新格局。找准全方位开放新格局与涉外商事审判的连接点，围绕“一带一路”交汇点建设、江苏自贸区法治保障、“走出去”企业法律风险防范、营造国际一流营商环境等方面开展调研，因地制宜地提出司法服务和保障措施。二是密切关注相关改革对涉外商事审判产生的影响，及时调整裁判思路。要密切关注国家外商投资审批制度改革对外商投资企业纠纷处理思路的影响；外汇管理体制改革、金融业开放对跨境融资、金融衍生交易等合同效力认定思路的影响；研究因对赌协议、协议控制等国际资本运作产生的相关纠纷。三是注重业务研究总结创新，积极推动调研成果转化。积极围绕审判工作中存在的共性问题、法律适用的热点问题、难点问题，积极开展专题调研，在条件成熟时，将优秀的调研成果转为指导性意见、会议纪要等文件，在提高人民法院涉外商事审判工作水平的同时，为完善法律法规，党委政府决策提供参考。
(四)推动多元化解纠纷，推动争议解决机制建设
积极推动建立调解、仲裁、诉讼有机衔接的多元纠纷解决机制，提供公正、便捷、低成本纠纷解决服务，满足中外当事人纠纷解决的多元需求。一是进一步加快推进与行政主管部门、仲裁机构等有关单位的合作机制建设，拓宽涉外纠纷解决渠道。二是积极与行业协会、专业调解机构等加强合作，整合社会力量主动参与共商、共建、共享的多元化纠纷解决机制。
(五)加强涉外商事海事审判队伍建设，不断提高专业化水平
涉外司法人才队伍是涉外司法制度竞争的核心。面对涉外商事审判工作中的新挑战，要将思想政治建设摆在首位，坚持“四个意识”，确保涉外商事审判工作始终沿着正确政治方向前进。要加强党风廉政建设和反腐败工作，切实改进司法作风，确保涉外商事审判队伍清正廉洁。要加强理想信念和职业道德教育，牢固树立职业尊荣感。要提升涉外商事审判队伍的正规化、专业化、职业化水平，着力培养一批具有丰富审判经验的专家型审判人才。特别是要着力锻造一批懂法律、懂外语、懂海洋、懂贸易、懂航运的复合型海事审判人才队伍。加大高层次人才培养力度，培养一批能够站在国际海事司法理论和实践最前沿，适应国际竞争需要的高素质海事法官，为海事审判创新发展提供坚实的人才保障。
Preface
With the deepening of reform and opening up and the promotion of the “Belt and Road” Construction and the construction of pilot free trade zones, foreign-related commercial trials have attracted increasing social attention and demand. Located in the intersection of the “Belt and Road”, Jiangsu Province boasts frequent cross-border investment and dynamic foreign trade. Moreover, its amount of foreign capital actually used has ranked the first in the country for many years, and its total import and export of goods has remained the second in the country for 16 consecutive years. China (Jiangsu) Pilot Free Trade Zone has also been completed. Correspondingly, courts of Jiangsu Province have also tried a large number of foreign-related commercial cases, as well as cases involving Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. In recent years, under the leadership of the provincialparty committee and the supervision of the National People’s Congress, under the guidance of the Supreme People’s Court and with the support of all walks of life, courts at all levels in Jiangsu Province have actively responded to new situations and new problems in the process of comprehensive opening up, implemented the best quality strategy of trial, gave full play to the function of foreign-related commercial trial, so as toguide and standardize investment and trade activities, equally protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese and foreign litigants, and make active efforts to create a legal, international and convenient business environment. All of these efforts have achieved new returns. To this end, we released this white paper on foreign-related commercial trials by courts of Jiangsu Province, showing the relevant work of courts of Jiangsu Province in serving and ensuring the new pattern of comprehensive opening up in Jiangsu, and making theoretical exploration and practical prospect for further promoting foreign-related commercial trials.
High People’s Court of Jiangsu Province
December 2019
I. Basic Situation and Characteristics of Foreign-Related Commercial Trials by Courts of Jiangsu Province
(I) Basic situation of foreign-related commercial cases
1.The number of foreign-related commercial cases is generally balanced, showing a steady upward trend.
From 2014 to the end of October 2019, courts of Jiangsu Province haveaccepted a total of 7,548 foreign-related commercial cases of first instance (including 3,615 cases and 3,933 cases involving Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan), 833 foreign-related commercial cases of second instance (including 481foreign-related cases and 352 cases involving Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan), and the number of cases accepted rose steadily (see Chart 1).A total of 8,107 foreign-related commercial cases were concluded. In addition, from 2014 to the end of October 2019, courts of Jiangsu Province also handled 6,286 cases of judicial assistance (including 113 cases of recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards, as well as judgments and arbitral awards of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan courts), tried 6,788 arbitration judicial review cases.
Chart 1 Foreign-related Commercial Cases Accepted byCourts of Jiangsu Province in Recent Six Years
2. The number of foreign-related commercial cases is unevenly distributed in regions, with great regional differences.
The number of foreign-related commercial cases accepted by courts in various parts of Jiangsu is quite different, and the distribution is extremely uneven. Suzhou, Nanjing and Wuxi were among the top three in the number of cases accepted by the courts, accounting for 64.96% of the foreign-related commercial cases by courts of Jiangsu Province.The number of foreign-related commercial cases reflects how dynamicthe economic exchangesin a region are.For instance, Suzhou, as a model of Jiangsu’s export-oriented economy, is directly characterized by the large number of foreign-related commercial cases and the heavy task of foreign-related commercial trials.
Chart 2 Foreign-related Commercial Cases Accepted by Courts in Jiangsu in Recent Six Years
3. Diversified disputes and relatively concentrated causes of action
Foreign-related commercial cases accepted by courts of Jiangsu Province involve 210 specific causes of action, mainly including loan contracts, contract for international sale of goods, import and export agency contracts, equity transfer disputes, company dissolution disputes, letters of credit disputes, etc., covering cross-border trade, investment, finance and other fields.The diversification of dispute types reflects the continuous expansion of Jiangsu’s economic opening to the outside world, the continuous expansion of cross-border investment fields and the continuous increase in foreign trade and economic cooperation.In order to correctly try different types of foreign-related commercial cases, it is necessary not only to be familiar with the laws and regulations in relevant fields, but also to have a thorough understanding of the professional knowledge and trading practices of various industries, which all increase the trial difficulty. Although there are various types of foreign-related commercial cases, the causes are relatively concentrated.Disputes such as international sale of goods, financial loans, equity transfer and finance lease have always accounted for a large proportion of foreign-related commercial cases.
Chart 3 Major Types and Their Proportion of Foreign-related Commercial Cases byCourts of Jiangsu Province in Recent Six Years
4. Foreign-related subjects are widely distributed in the region, with a large number of cases involving Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.
In the past six years, courts of Jiangsu Province have accepted 4096 cases involving foreign litigants, accounting for 49.0% of the total number of cases involving foreign regions, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.The litigantsarefrom more than 100 countries and regions such as the United States, Britain, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, British Virgin Islands, and more than half of the cases involve traditional trading partners such as the United States, Britain and Singapore, which implies that the integration of Jiangsu and the world economy is deepening increasingly.The total number of commercial cases involving Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan accepted by courts of Jiangsu Province is 4,285, accounting for 51.0% of the total number of cases involving foreign regions, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.Courts of Jiangsu Province haveaccepted 2,181 commercial disputes involving Taiwan, accounting for 26% of the total number of commercial cases involving foreign regions, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.Jiangsu is one of the regions where Taiwanese businessmen invest the most in the mainland and Taiwan-funded enterprises are most concentrated.The exchanges and cooperation between Jiangsu and Taiwan in various fields continue to develop, with close economic and trade relationship as well as frequent investment and trade. Therefore, courts of Jiangsu Province havealso accepted a larger number ofTaiwan-related cases.
Chart 4 Countries and Regions Involved in Foreign-related Commercial Cases byCourts of Jiangsu Province in Recent Six Years
Blue: 1127 cases involving countries along the “Belt and Road” route
Red: 4285 cases involving Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan
Green: 2969 cases involving other countries
5. The total amount of foreign-related commercial cases is relatively large, with obvious differences in individual cases
In the past six years, the amount of foreign-related commercial cases accepted by courts of Jiangsu Province has exceeded 80 billion yuan.From 2014 to the end of October 2019, the average amount of foreign-related commercial cases acceptedare 5,783,000 yuan, 7,647,300yuan, 10,513,800yuan, 8,283,100yuan, 10,623,200yuan and 14,487,000yuan respectively, revealing an obvious upward trend.The highest amount of case is 2.6 billion yuan, and the lowest amount is only tens of thousands yuan, showing a huge disparity between cases.The increase in the total amount of foreign-related commercial cases reflects, to a certain extent, the increase of cross-border investment and trade activities of Jiangsu and the increasing judicial demand for dispute resolution.
Chart 5 Average Amount of Foreign-related Commercial Cases byCourts of Jiangsu Province in Recent Six Years
6. The trial quality of foreign-related commercial cases is good and the rate of retrial or judgmentamendmentis low.
In the past six years, the total number of foreign-related commercial cases decided by courts of Jiangsu Province in the first instance was 3,732, accounting for 49.45% of the total number of cases.The number ofmediated or cancelled cases was 3363, accounting for 44.56%.In the past six years, the rate of mediated or cancelled casesof first-instance foreign-related commercial cases has remained basically stable. The rate of obeying the trial without appeal of the foreign-related commercial trial in the first instance is 82.9%, the appeal rate is 11.04%, and the rate of retrial or judgment amendment in the second instance is 0.7%, with the quality of trial being generally good. Due to factors such as overseas delivery, the trial period is relatively long, with an average trial period of 257 days for foreign-related commercial cases in the past six years.
Chart 6 Rate of Mediated or Cancelled Foreign-related Commercial Cases byCourts of Jiangsu Province in Recent Six Years
(II) New Features of Foreign-related Commercial Cases byCourts of Jiangsu Province
Opening up characterizesthe development of Jiangsu.Foreign-related commercial cases by courts of Jiangsu Province also manifest some new features that are relatedto the high level of Jiangsu’s open economy.
1. The number of cases involving countries along the “Belt and Road” route has increased significantly
After the “Belt and Road” was put forward, Jiangsu, as the junction of the “Belt and Road”, has exchanged more and more frequently with countries along the route in personnel and trade, therefore followedby more and more commercial disputes.According to statistics, in the past six years, more than half of the foreign-related commercial cases tried by courts of Jiangsu Province involved countries along the “Belt and Road” route, while the total number of commercial cases involving countries along the “Belt and Road” route accounted for about 30% of the total number of foreign-related commercial cases (except those involving Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) tried by courts of Jiangsu Province.
2. New types of cases are constantly emerging
In the foreign-related commercial trials of courts of Jiangsu Province, new types of cases such as international syndicated loans, fraud in letter of credit, fraud in independent guarantee, finance lease, equity repurchase, and enterprise valuation adjustment agreements are on the increase, and the overall litigation amount is relatively high.This reflects from the side that with the implementation of high-level trade and investment liberalization and facilitation policies, the financial sector has become increasingly open and innovative.
3. The procedural problems in foreign-related commercial cases are outstanding
In general, foreign-related commercial cases present procedural problems such as difficulty in finding out the facts, application of foreign laws and service inforeign cases.The long trial period of foreign-related commercial cases is detrimental to timely and efficient resolution of disputes and safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the litigants.
4. Foreign investment disputes are increasing
In 2016, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress revised the “Three Laws on Foreign Investment”and implemented a negative list management system reform on the foreign investment management system, greatly facilitating foreign investment.In recent years, cases involving disputes that anonymous shareholders of foreign-invested enterprises asking for registration, and equity transfer disputescontinue to emerge.In the past six years, courts of Jiangsu Province have tried 1,313 disputes involving foreign-invested enterprises.For such cases, courts in the whole province insist on combining entrusted investment agreement and the fact of capital flow, trying to find out the litigants’ true intention, protecting the investment rights and interests of both Chinese and foreign litigantsequally, and enhancing foreign investors’ confidence in business environment under rule of law in Jiangsu.
5. There are many disputes over letters of credit and independent guarantee
Enterprises in Jiangsu use letters of credit and independent guarantees as payment and financing tools in many fields such as import and export trade and undertaking overseas projects.In the past six years, courts of Jiangsu Province have accepted more than 50 new cases of first instance concerning disputes over foreign letters of credit and independent guarantees.Disputes over letters of credit and independent letter of guarantee contain a large number of subjects, are highly concerned by the society and the industry and are subject to International practices as well as banking and financial practices. Whether the people’s courts can correctly handle such disputes would exert influence on the overseas credit status of Chinese enterprises and financial institutions and the smooth progress of national strategies such as the “Belt and Road” Construction.
6. Disputes over “Going Global” of enterprises are increasing
In the past six years, courts of Jiangsu Province have accepted a total of 54 new cases of first instance concerning foreign construction contract disputes.Overseas infrastructure construction, as an important part of “Going Global” of Chinese enterprise, plays an important role in the “Belt and Road” Construction. However, due to the complicated geopolitical situation, different levels of economic development and great differences in legal environment in the countries where the projects are located, disputes over international construction projects are also increasing. Difficult issues in the international project casesexist in the fields of jurisdiction, validity of contracts, settlement of project funds, and ascertainment of foreign laws and so on, which make such cases hard to be dealt with.
7. Demand for international judicial assistance are increasing
With the advancement of the “Belt and Road” Construction, countries have strengthened international cooperation in the recognition and enforcement of court judgments and arbitral awards to realize the free enforcement of judgments and awards, which can reduce the litigation burden of the litigants, save judicial resources and maintain the stability of legal relations.However, the concept of international commercial arbitration in the countries along the “Belt and Road” route is complex and diverse, and their legal systemsare at different stages of development. These characteristics determine that there are great risks and uncertainties in international commercial litigation and arbitration in the process of promoting the “Belt and Road” Construction.
II. Achievementsin Foreign-Related Commercial Trials by Courts of Jiangsu Province
(I) Further implementation of best quality strategy, pay close attention to the first priority of law enforcement and handling cases
The best quality strategy is a systematic project put forward and implemented by the Supreme People’s Court in January 2010 to comprehensively enhance the judicial credibility of foreign-related commercial trials.Courts of Jiangsu Province fully understand the importance of the best quality strategy of foreign-related commercial trials and focus on law enforcement and case trailing to create high-quality cases.First, the quality and efficiency data of all trials have been stable.The rate of obeying the trial without appeal for the first instance was 82.9%, the rate of retrial or judgment amendment for the second instance was 0.7%, and the annual ratio of cases closed was above 90%.Second, courts of Jiangsu Province have tried a number of high-quality cases with great influence.Jiangsu Taihu Boiler Co., Ltd. and PT. KrakatauEngineering Corporationand the Wuxi Branch of Bank of China Limited,A Dispute over Fraud with a GuaranteeLetter and Kolmar Group AG, A Case of an Application for the Recognition and Enforcement of aCivil Judgment of the High Court of Singapore have been listed respectively in the first batch and second batchof Typical Cases Involving the “Belt and Road” Construction. The cover feature article of Documentary Credit Worldin the United Statesemphasized on the case of fraud with a guarantee letter between Far Ease Cable Co., Ltd., Qatar PLI and Wuxi Branch of Bank of China. Third, new progress has been achieved in international judicial cooperation.On the one hand, in recent years, a total of six judgments and rulings of courts of Jiangsu Province have been recognized and implemented in Australia, Israel, the United States, Singapore and other countries without judicial assistance treaties, which is the largest number in the courts across the country.On the other hand, courts of Jiangsu Province provide judicial assistance in accordance with the law, demonstrating the open and inclusive judicial attitude of the people’s courts.The Intermediate People’s Court of NanjingCity’s ruling of recognition and enforcement of the judgment of High Court of Singapore on the dispute over the sales contract between Kolmar Group AG and Jiangsu Textile Industry (Group) Import & Export Co., Ltd. is regarded as a milestone in the application of the principle of reciprocity by China’s courts. Courts of Jiangsu Province have also actively deepened interregional judicial assistance and enriched judicial practice under the background of “One Country, Two Systems”.On November 27, 2019, the Intermediate People’s Court of Lianyungang City successfully assisted the Hong Kong International Arbitration Center to complete property preservation in Lianyungang City according to the “Arrangement on Mutual Assistance and Preservation between Mainland and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Courts in Arbitration Procedures”.In December 2016, the Intermediate People’s Court of NanjingCity ruled to enforce the arbitration award made by the Hong Kong Arbitration Center of the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission, which is also the first time that an arbitration award made overseas by a domestic arbitration institution was enforced by a mainland court.
(II) Actively serve the overall situation,safeguard the implementation of major national strategies
Considering the location of Jiangsu, the intersection of the“Belt and Road”, courts of Jiangsu Province responded positively to the judicial needs of the “Belt and Road”construction and created a fair, transparent and predictable business environment under the rule of law.First, courts of Jiangsu Province have actively stepped up news publicity.The provincial court held a press conference on the construction of the service and safeguard for the “Belt and Road” to inform the main practices of courts of Jiangsu Province and to make ten typical cases pubic.Second, the investigation and study of foreign-related commercial disputes have been vigorously strengthened.In recent years, courts of Jiangsu Province have completed a number of key research projects of provincial societies and courts, including “Study on Legal Issues of Independent Guarantees” and “Study on Application of Laws to Stop Payment in Fraud in Letter of Credit”.In People’s Judicature, the article “Courts of JiangsuProvince Strives to Enhance the Judicial Credibility of Foreign-related Commercial Trials, Serving and Guaranteeing the Construction of the ‘Belt and Road’”was published, summarizing the practical exploration of Jiangsu Court’s service and safeguard of the “Belt and Road”construction, and summing up the judicial rule system.Third, relevant judicial opinions are released.Courts of Jiangsu Province at all levels have found the right combination and launched specific measures for service and safeguard.The provincial court issued the “Implementation Opinions on Elaborating High-quality Judicial Services and Safeguarding Jiangsu’s High-quality Development at the Front Line”, actively escorting the “Belt and Road” construction. The Intermediate People’s Court of LianyungangCity published “Twelve Opinions on the Construction of Pilot Zone in the Core Area of Escort the ‘Belt and Road’Junction”, which was selected by People’s Court Daily as one of the six typical measures of local court to serve and safeguard the “Belt and Road” construction.The Intermediate People’s Court of LianyungangCity has set up the country’s first the “Belt and Road” circuit court, and has signed a “Framework Agreement on Judicial Cooperation in Service Guarantee for Service and Safeguard of the Construction of New Asia-Europe Land and Sea Transport Corridor” with the intermediate people’s courts and maritime courts of21 prefecture-level cities along the “Belt and Road” in and outside Jiangsu Province, including Nanjing and Suzhou.
(III) Innovate the judicial mechanism, enhance the judicial credibility of foreign-related commercial trials
Courts of Jiangsu Province have strengthened the modernization of foreign-related commercial judicial capacity in combination with the actual work of foreign-related commercial trials.First, ways to ascertain foreign laws have been expanded actively.The provincial court has set up an expert database for ascertaining foreign laws for courts of Jiangsu Province and invited more than 30 domestic and foreign legal experts to serve as foreign law experts to help the people’s courts ascertain and apply foreign laws.It has also formulated the “Measures for the Administration of Experts Database for Ascertaining Foreign Laws (Trial)” to regulate the selection and deploy of foreign law identification experts.Second, a diversified dispute resolution mechanism has been studied and established.In order to better promote the construction of service demonstration area for transfer and agglomeration of Taiwan-funded enterprise industry in Huaian City and strengthen construction of cross-strait industrial cooperation pilot area, courts in HuaianCity and Kunshan Cityhave improved the trial mechanism to provide high-quality and efficient judicial service guarantee for Taiwan compatriots.In 2018, Huaian Intermediate People’s Court and the HuaianMunicipal Taiwan Affairs Office jointly formulated and issued the “Implementation Opinions on Strengthening the Transfer of Appeals and Mediation in Disputes Relating to Taiwan” and set up the Transferring Office of Appeals and Mediation to form an overall cooperation force.The People’s Court of Kunshan City, the local Taiwan Affairs Office and the Taiwan Association jointly signed the “Opinions on Strengthening Mediation of Taiwan-related Cases” and selected 30 specially invited mediators to participate in resolving disputes involving Taiwan businessmen.The rate of mediation or cancellation of cases involvingTaiwan in the People’s Court of Kunshan City remained above 60% every year, far exceeding the rate of cases mediated or cancelled of general foreign-related commercial cases.Third, the judicial assistance mechanism has been further improved.The provincial court has centralized judicial assistance to the No. 4 Civil Courtroom, and has appointed a special person to be responsible for it. it has strictly standardized the procedures for handling judicial assistance, explored the establishment of a foreign language translation format text library for documents to be served, determined the reserved court session time with big data, compressed the service period, improved the service efficiency, ensured that all links can be traced back, and improved the success rate of judicial assistance.
(IV) Support arbitration in accordance with the law, establish a centralized hearing mechanism for arbitration judicial review cases
In February 2015, courts of Jiangsu Province began to explore the establishment of a centralized hearing mechanism for arbitration judicial review cases, collectively centralizing arbitration judicial review cases to foreign-related commercial courts, optimizing the allocation of trial resources and unifying judicial standards.Centralized hearing mechanism for arbitration judicial review cases of courts of Jiangsu Province contains the following characteristics: First, the most complete centralized hearing mechanism has been established.Courts of Jiangsu Province will centralize all cases of confirming the validity of arbitration agreements, applications for annulment of arbitration awards, objections to non-enforcement of arbitration awards, jurisdictional objections involving arbitration agreements, and cases of recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitration awards to foreign-related commercial courts.Second, the trial procedure of arbitration judicial review cases has been standardized.Review according to the first instance procedure, serve a copy of application to the litigants, and organize the litigantsto conduct a hearing of witnesses, etc.Third, the examination standards have been strictly followed.Firmly establish the judicial concept of paying equal attention to support and supervision, and earnestly safeguard the finality of the arbitration award.In recent years, nearly half of the cases reported by the intermediate courts that is planned to be rejected, whose arbitration award to be revoked and whose arbitration agreement to be confirmed invalid have not been approved by the provincial court.
(V) Strengthen the team building,reinforce the talents pool of foreign-related commercial and maritime trial
Courts of Jiangsu Province attaches great importance to the professional construction of foreign-related commercial judges and take various measures to improve their comprehensive qualities.Frist, the construction of specialized judicial institutions has been fortified.At the beginning of 2019, the provincial court established the No. 4 Civil Courtroom, which is responsible for foreign-related commercial trials, judicial review of arbitration, international judicial assistance, etc.Intermediate people’s courts in 13 cities across the province have set up special courts to hear foreign-related commercial cases, and 11 basic courts with jurisdiction over foreign-related commercial cases have also set up special collegial panels respectively.Second, professional training has been strengthened.In view of the more frequent exchange of judges in the process of judicial reform, courts of Jiangsu Province have consolidated and improved the professional level of foreign-related commercial trial teams by means of case evaluation, forum between higher and lower courts and special training.The provincial court also assigned experienced judges with solid theoretical knowledge to the intermediate court to teach foreign-related commercial trial practice, so that the judges newly joining in the foreign-related commercial trial team can become familiar with the business as soon as possible.Third, the talent selection and training mechanism has been innovated.In 2019, in order to build Nanjing Maritime Court at a high level, the provincial court selected 24 excellent judges and judge assistants from The provincial court to go to the brother maritime court for case-following study, and also selected judges and judge assistants from the maritime courts across the country, the provincial court and maritime administrative organs to reserve maritime trial talents for courts of Jiangsu Province.
III. New Situations Faced byCourts of Jiangsu Provincein Foreign-Related Commercial Trials
(I) The high-quality development of an open economy puts forward new requirements for foreign-related commercial trials
General Secretary Xi Jinping has given Jiangsu the positioning of the “Belt and Road” intersection.Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China made it clear that we must seize and take advantage of the great opportunity of the construction of the “Belt and Road” junction, promote the Jiangsu’s superposition and integration of national strategies such as the “Belt and Road” construction, the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the regional integration of the Yangtze River Delta, integrating deeper into the global economic cycle, and accelerating the cultivation of new advantages in opening up to the outside world.In September this year, China (Jiangsu) Pilot Free Trade Zone was formally established.Lou Qinjian,Secretary of Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, pointed out that it is both an important guarantee and a necessary procedure to push forward Jiangsu’s exploratory capacity, innovative capacity and leading development in the new historical position and to lead the country in the construction of the rule of law.The rule of law shall be actually made an important symbol of Jiangsu’s development of core competitiveness.This requires courts of Jiangsu Province to find a starting point for their work, respond effectively to the new requirements of market innovation and development in the free trade zone, give full play to the role of judicial guarantee and guidance, ensure the effective implementation of the rules, and consolidate the achievements of reform.They should establish the judicial concept of a great country, clarify the rules of adjudication, properly resolve disputes in accordance with the law, and equally protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese and foreign litigants.
(II) Deepening reform and opening up in an all-round way pose new challenges to foreign-related commercial trials
As China implements a high-level trade and investment liberalization and facilitation policy, continues to relax market access and upgrade the level of investment liberalization, andgraduallyimplements various reform measures, new situations and new problems will continue to emerge.For example, the negative list management system for foreign investment has changed the examination and approval system to the filing system for the establishment, equity transfer and dissolution of foreign-funded enterprises, thus improving the convenience of foreign investment. The Foreign Investment Law will also replace the “Three Laws on Foreign Investment”.The people’s court has to timely adjust the legal basis, coordinate the connection between the law and the original judicial interpretation, and coordinate the judicial review and administrative supervision of the transactions involved in the case when trying cases such as confirmation of shareholder identity and equity transfer contracts.
(III) New industries, new formats and new models have put forward new topics for foreign-related commercial trials
New industries, new formats and new models, based on advanced manufacturing, Internet plus, innovation and entrepreneurship, cross-border comprehensive management and other “Three New” activities, are developing rapidly in China. While providing convenience and optimizing the allocation of resources, they also bring problems such as disorderly competition and credit moral risks.For instance, arbitration of P2P Internet is an innovation in arbitration in internet plus. In practice, Internet plus brings about problems such as harming the rights and interests of ordinary consumers, taking lending as a business without a license, charging ultra-high interest in disguised form, and even some cases being suspected of “trap loan”, whichnot only have damaged the healthy development of arbitration, but also damaged the judicial credibility of the people’s court.
(IV) The opening of Nanjing Maritime Court opens new fields for foreign-related commercial trials
Nanjing Maritime Court will begin to perform its statutory duties on December 4, 2019.Maritime trial is a brand-new field for courts of Jiangsu Province.The maritime courts are at the forefront when opening up to the outside world. They are related to the vital interests of the masses, the marine rights and interests of the country and the high level of opening up to the outside world.Maritime trials are characterized by various foreign-related factors, strong professionalism, complicated legal relations, diversified application of laws, and great international influence. In particular, many cases require the application of international treaties and rules, which puts forward higher requirements on the quality and ability of maritime judges.Jiangsu is a major province of marine and shipping. There are a large number of maritime cases with diversified types of cases in Jiangsu Province. Difficult and complicated cases will emerge continuously.
IV. Outlook ofForeign-Related Commercial Trials by Courts of Jiangsu Province
Facing the new situation, the foreign-related commercial trial team of courts of Jiangsu Province must firmly establish the overall situation awareness, strengthen the mission responsibility, give full play to the trial function with a high sense of responsibility and mission, comprehensively deepen the best quality strategy of trial, and provide a solid legal guarantee for the implementation of the national major strategy and Jiangsu’s high-quality development in the forefront of the country.
(I) Improve the political stance, strengthen the sense of mission and responsibility
China is now in an important period of promoting the reform and opening up in the new era. The open economy is developing in depth and the rule of law is advancing in an all-round way. Foreign-related commercial trial of the people’s court shall apply international treaties and international practices, equally protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese and foreign litigants, and create an international first-class business environment.At present, the international economic and political structure has been profoundly adjusted, and foreign-related commercial trials also shoulder special functions of safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests.To create a fair and just legal environment depends on the people’s court hearing cross-border disputes in infrastructure construction, economic and trade exchanges, industrial investment, cargo transportation and other fields in a fair and efficient manner, providing high-quality foreign-related commercial trial to serve and safeguard the high quality of reform and opening up.
(II) Comprehensively deepen the best quality strategy of trial, improve the quality and efficiency of foreign-related commercial trials
First, the judicial responsibility system shall be comprehensively implemented and the quality and efficiency of trials shall be intensified. Take the trial as the center, complete the pretrial preparation and improve the quality of trials. Standardize the management of the trial process, adopt measures such as urging and supervision of implementation of pending cases, and strengthen the internal trial management of the court. Second, strengthen trial supervision and guidance, and unify judgment standards. Improve the working mechanism of communication between lower and higher courts, and adhere to the reporting system for important information and major cases. Implement communication, exchange and other systems for retrial and return of retrial cases and unify judgment standards. Carry out case quality review, and strengthen trial business guidance through centralized feedback from forums and issuing review reports. Third, focus on creating excellent cases and practically exerting the international influence of major cases. The judicial credibility of the people's courts must be established through specific cases. Special attention should be given to the hearing of foreign-related commercial cases involving the application of international treaty conventions, confirmation of new commercial rules, legal or policy adjustments, market innovation, and of great social and industry influence, and to make excellent judgments that lead international commercial rules and have great influence on significant legal issues.
(III) Strengthen investigation and study, take the initiative to serve the overall situation
First, make good use of thethinkingof government by law to actively judge the overall situation, and serve and safeguard a new pattern of comprehensive opening up.Find out the connection point between the new pattern of all-round opening and foreign-related commercial trials, carry out investigations around the construction of the “Belt and Road” junction, the legal protection of Jiangsu Free Trade Zone, the prevention of legal risks for “going global”enterprises, and the creation of an international first-class business environment, and propose judicial services and safeguard measures according to local conditions.Second, pay close attention to the impact of relevant reforms on foreign-related commercial trials and adjust the judgment thinking in a timely manner.Pay close attention to the impact of the reform of the national examination and approval system for foreign investment on the way of dealing with disputes in foreign-invested enterprises andthe impact of the reform of the foreign exchange management system and the opening of the financial industry on the thinking of determining the validity of contracts such as cross-border financing and financial derivative transactions;study the disputes arising from international capital actions such as valuation adjustment mechanism and agreement control.Third, focus on summarizing and innovating business research and actively promote the transformation of research results.Actively carry out special research around the common problems, hot issues and difficult issues concerning the application of laws in trials, and convert the excellent research results into guidance opinions, meeting minutes and other documents when the conditions are ripe so as to provide reference for perfecting laws and regulations, party committees and governments to make decisions while improving the level of foreign-related commercial trial work of the people’s court.
(IV) Promote diversified dispute resolution, promote the construction of dispute resolution mechanism
Actively promote establishment of the diversified dispute resolution organically involving mediation, arbitration, litigation organic convergence of multiple dispute resolution mechanism, provide fair, convenient, low cost dispute resolution services so as to meet the diverse needs of Chinese and foreign litigants to resolve disputes.First, further speed up the construction of cooperation mechanisms among administrative departments, arbitration agencies and other relevant units to broaden the channels for foreign-related disputes. Second, actively strengthen cooperationamongtrade associations, professional mediation organizations and other institutions, and integrate social forces to actively participate in a diversified dispute resolution mechanism of consultation, co-construction and sharing.
(V) Strengthen the construction of foreign-related commercial maritime trial team, and constantly improve the level of specialization
Foreign-related judicial talents are the core in competition of foreign-related judicial system.Facing the new challenges in foreign-related commercial trials, we should put political and ideological construction in the first place, adhere to the “four consciousnesses” and ensure that foreign-related commercial trials always follow the correct political direction.Strengthen the construction of a clean and honest Party working style and anti-corruption work, and effectively improve the judicial style to ensure the integrity of foreign-related commercial trial team.Strengthen education in ideals, beliefs and professional ethics and firmly establish a sense of professional honor.Improve the standardization, specialization and professionalism of foreign-related commercial trial teams, efforts should be made to train a group of expert trial talents with rich trial experience.In particular, efforts should be made to forge a group of compound maritime judicial personnel who understand laws, foreign languages, marine, trade and shipping.Intensify the training of high-level personnel, train a group of high-quality maritime judges who can stand at the forefront of international maritime justice theory and practice and meet the needs of international competition, serving as a solid talent guarantee for the innovative development of maritime trials.