Amidst global economic complexities and a significant surge in international litigation, China’s judicial system is positioning itself as a pivotal force in shaping the nation’s high-level opening-up strategy. Supreme People’s Court President Zhang Jun revealed that Chinese courts have demonstrated remarkable capacity in handling cross-border disputes, concluding 128,000 first-instance foreign-related civil and commercial cases during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025)—representing a 65% increase from the previous five years.
The judicial expansion reflects China’s deepening integration into global markets, with cases spanning more than 100 countries and regions. In 2025 alone, courts nationwide handled over 67,000 foreign-related commercial and maritime cases, marking a 44% year-on-year increase. This growth parallels global supply chain restructuring and the rise of digital trade, bringing complex disputes involving international goods contracts, service trade, cross-border payments, transportation, and insurance.
China has established specialized institutions to address this growing demand, including the pioneering International Commercial Courts in Shenzhen and Xi’an (established 2018), which have resolved 37 cases involving parties from 21 jurisdictions. Additionally, international commercial tribunals across 18 cities—including Beijing, Shanghai, and Suzhou—concluded over 1,700 foreign-related commercial and arbitration review cases in 2025, representing a 24% annual increase.
The system’s efficiency was demonstrated in a notable case where a foreign oil tanker dispute at Qingdao port was resolved within 24 hours through coordinated efforts between maritime courts using both online and offline mediation techniques.
Significantly, China’s judicial influence is gaining international recognition. In a landmark 2022 incident involving a collision between Liberian and Panamanian vessels in the Strait of Malacca, parties proactively selected China’s Ningbo Maritime Court despite jurisdiction options across five nations. This voluntary selection by international entities, even those without substantial connections to China, signals growing confidence in China’s judicial system.
Reciprocity breakthroughs have further enhanced China’s legal standing. In March 2022, the Shanghai Maritime Court recognized a UK court judgment based on reciprocal principles—despite the absence of a formal judicial assistance treaty—prompting British courts to subsequently recognize two Chinese judgments and breaking the ‘zero record’ of mutual recognition between the nations.
From 2024-2025, Chinese courts received 1,620 applications for recognizing and enforcing foreign judgments, concluding 1,510 cases, demonstrating commitment to protecting rights of all parties through fair and inclusive judicial practices.
President Zhang emphasized that ‘openness is a key feature of Chinese modernization, and the rule of law is the foundation for achieving high-level global engagement.’ Chinese courts have actively contributed to legislative developments including the Foreign Investment Law and Law on Foreign Relations, while also playing a crucial role in international rule-making, notably through China’s full participation in developing the UN Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents—the first transportation sector treaty originating from Chinese judicial practice.
As global uncertainties persist, China’s judiciary positions itself as both a ‘navigator’ for opening-up and an ‘anchor of stability’ for global trade, using legal certainty to address external volatilities while providing judicial solutions that support both China’s economic stability and global economic development.