The China-ASEAN Free Trade Area Nanning International Commercial Tribunal was unveiled on Sept 16. Liu Ning, Party secretary of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, Yang Wanming, vice-president of the Supreme People's Court (SPC), and officials from the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), attended the unveiling ceremony.

The China-ASEAN Free Trade Area Nanning International Commercial Tribunal is unveiled, Sept 16, 2022. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

Liu extended warm congratulations on the establishment of the tribunal and appreciation for the long-term support from the SPC, CCPIT and CNIPA to Guangxi’s development. Noting that the rule of law is the best business environment, he urged for further efforts on the coordinated enhancement of domestic and foreign-related rule of law for a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment in Guangxi.

With the establishment of the tribunal in Nanning, foreign-related trial resources will be integrated, and a one-stop resolution mechanism for foreign-related disputes will be explored to facilitate the fair, efficient and convenient resolution of international civil and commercial matters, he said. These measures will also be conducive to enhancing the Belt and Road cooperation, building the upgraded version of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, he added.

Liu pledged to strengthen international judicial assistance and cooperation via existing China-ASEAN judicial exchange platforms in a bid to contribute to the building of a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.

According to the approval letter from the SPC, the Nanning International Commercial Tribunal will have jurisdiction over foreign-related civil and commercial cases in Guangxi, involving ASEAN members, RCEP members and other countries.