The BRICS Chief Justices Forum closes in Sochi, Russia. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

On June 19, the BRICS Chief Justices Forum concluded in Sochi, Russia, with a joint statement to record the broad consensus on promoting judicial and legislative cooperation among participating countries.

Zhang Jun, chief justice and president of the Supreme People's Court (SPC) of China, attended the closing ceremony and delivered a speech.

The BRICS Chief Justices Forum adopts a joint statement. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

The joint statement highlighted that judicial dialogue among BRICS countries contributes to strengthening cooperation among their respective supreme courts and fostering mutual trust and friendship among the nations and their peoples.

The participating countries reached broad consensus on multiple aspects, including promoting unified judicial standards, upholding the principles of fairness and equal rights, protecting investors' rights in line with the law, promoting the resolution of economic disputes, enhancing human rights protection in criminal proceedings, strengthening and regulating the application of information technology in judicial adjudication, and advancing legislative coordination among BRICS countries, the statement said.

On behalf of China's SPC, Zhang extended congratulations upon the success of the forum. He said that this forum, the first high-level judicial forum held since the BRICS membership expansion, was pragmatic and fruitful, enhancing friendship, consolidating consensus, and paving the way for future cooperation.

With sincere wishes to promote cooperation and seek development, representatives of participating countries engaged in in-depth discussions on issues of common concern, fostering consensus that is expected to have a profound impact on promoting judicial exchanges and cooperation among BRICS countries and beyond, he said.

Zhang noted that judiciary not only serves as a powerful means to safeguard the reform, development and common prosperity of nations, but also acts as an important bridge for close exchanges and enhanced cooperation.

Saying that there is great potential for judicial exchanges and cooperation among BRICS countries, Zhang expressed the hope that they would join hands to deepen practical cooperation in judicial fields, comprehensively enhance the rule of law, and contribute to the stable and sustainable development of BRICS cooperation and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Judges from the Chinese delegation deliver speeches at the BRICS Chief Justices Forum. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

Irina Podnosova, chief justice of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, chaired the closing ceremony.

Boissie Mbha, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa; Mohammed bin Hamad Al Badi Al-Dhaheri, president of the Federal Supreme Court of the United Arab Emirates; Hosni Abdul Latif, president of the Supreme Court of Cassation of Egypt; Tewodros Mihret, chief justice of Ethiopia; Surya Kant, judge of the Supreme Court of India; Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Iran; and Valentin Sukalo, chairman of the Supreme Court of Belarus, also delivered speeches at the closing ceremony.