The 17th conference of presidents of supreme courts of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states closed on the evening of Aug 18. Zhou Qiang, chief justice and president of the Supreme People's Court (SPC) of China, attended and addressed the closing ceremony via video link.

The 17th conference of presidents of supreme courts of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states is held on Aug 18, 2022. This is the Chinese venue of the conference. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

A joint statement was adopted at the conference where all parties reinforced the prospect of future cooperation among judicial organs in SCO member states following the principle of mutual trust and good-neighborliness, in order to ensure the sustainable development of the region.

Consensus has been reached in the joint statement on topics such as penalties, bankruptcy disputes, the application of artificial intelligence and automation in judicial procedures, trials on child fostering cases, crackdown on cybercrime, administrative litigation procedures, as well as exchange seminars and joint training.

Zhou said that the conference concluded successfully under the principle of extensive consultation, joint contributions and shared benefits, where thorough discussions were made on agenda topics, new measures proposed, and new models of judicial cooperation explored. The joint statement collected the consensus of all parties and reinforced mutual trust, which will inject new momentum into the judicial exchanges and cooperation among SCO member states, he added.

He pledged that China's SPC is willing to uphold the "Shanghai Spirit" together with other member states, practice true multilateralism, further exchanges and cooperation, serve the building of a closer SCO community with a shared future, and strive to contribute more to lasting world peace and common prosperity.

Justices from Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Uzbekistan, Iran and India addressed the closing ceremony and acknowledged the achievements of the conference. They agreed that the adoption of the joint statement laid out the prospect of future judicial cooperation among SCO member states, and will continue to improve the efficacy of the cooperation, enhance mutual understanding of their legal systems, and facilitate cooperation towards a more open and diversified direction.