The National Judges College held its opening ceremony for the 2023 spring semester in Beijing on April 10.

At the ceremony, Zhang Jun, president of the Supreme People's Court, delivered the first lesson of the semester to the newly appointed heads of intermediate and primary people's courts.

Supreme People's Court President Zhang Jun gives the newly appointed heads of intermediate and primary people's courts the first lesson of the semester at the opening ceremony in Beijing on April 10, 2023. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

Mentioning a group of problems found during a survey trip of SPC departments and lower-level courts, such as a passive attitude in trial work and regimented practice in the administration of justice, Zhang pointed out that the fundamental solution to these problems lies in the transformation and modernization of judicial concepts.

The newly appointed heads of intermediate and primary people's courts listen to Zhang's lecture at the opening ceremony in Beijing on April 10, 2023. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

To make the solution more specific, Zhang shared some typical cases to help the attendees better understand modernization of concepts in criminal, civil and administrative trials.

He urged the courts to actively extend their functions, cooperate with the procuratorates while constraining each other in accordance with their functions, help enterprises get out of trouble and create a better business environment.

Zhang said that in handling civil cases, courts should focus on resolving conflicts and problems, strive to settle disputes through mediation or in the first stance to avoid the time and expense of a trial.  

The attendants listen to Zhang's lecture at the opening ceremony in Beijing on April 10, 2023. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

He also stressed that judges should fully consider the feasibility of judgment execution and seek the best discretionary solution that can better protect the rights and interests of both parties.

When talking about modernization of concept in administrative trials, Zhang emphasized the government’s role in the governing of conflicts and disputes in key areas at the source, and called for greater efforts to improve the alignment and coordination mechanism between administrative law enforcement and judicial trials.

During the three-hour lecture, Zhang also shared his view on how to develop judicial activism in China, adding that the fundamental purpose of adhering to judicial activism is to integrate the Party's leadership, the status of the people as the masters of the country, and the rule of law.