Zhou Qiang, president of the Supreme People's Court (SPC), urged continuous attention to giving equal judicial protection to property rights of businesses under various forms of ownership and to entrepreneurs' rights and interests.

Zhou reiterated the requirement at a July 31 video conference for courts nationwide themed on promoting judicial protection for property rights and entrepreneurs' rights and interests.

He stressed that courts nationwide should strictly distinguish between crimes and non-crimes, economic crimes and economic disputes and criminal and civil liabilities. When distraining property of a business, a court should try to allow the business to continue working, Zhou added.

Since 2016, the SPC has released a series of documents to instruct courts at all levels to provide stronger judicial protection for property rights and create a better legal environment for entrepreneurs' innovation.