Zhang Jun, president of the Supreme People's Court of China, has underlined China's commitment to enhancing pragmatic cooperation with Central Asian countries in the fields of combating crime, resolving commercial disputes, protecting the environment and accelerating information technology application in the judicial field.

Zhang Jun, president of the Supreme People's Court of China, meets with Aslambek Mergaliyev, chairman of the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

Zhang Jun, president of the Supreme People's Court of China, meets with Zamirbek Bazarbekov, chairman of the Supreme Court of the Kyrgyz Republic. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

Zhang Jun, president of the Supreme People's Court of China, meets with Shermuhammad Shohiyon, chairman of the Supreme Court of Tajikistan. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

Zhang Jun, president of the Supreme People's Court of China, meets with Bakhtiyor Islamov, chairman of the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

Zhang made the remarks during his separate meetings on Sept 23 and 24 with presidents of the supreme courts of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, who are in China to attend the Meeting of Presidents of Supreme Courts of China and Central Asian Countries in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

During the meetings, Zhang highlighted the development of the Belt and Road Initiative since its inception in 2013, saying that the initiative has evolved from a grand vision to tangible achievements, becoming a widely embraced international public good and platform for cooperation.

In May 2023, the China-Central Asia Summit garnered global attention and marked a significant milestone, ushering in a new era in relations between China and Central Asian countries, he said.

Reflecting on the fruitful exchanges between Chinese courts and the judiciaries of Central Asian countries, Zhang briefed the guests about China's rule of law development and the progress made in recent years. He emphasized the efforts and achievements of Chinese courts in dispute prevention and resolution, judicial reform, IT application and adjudication management.

Zhang noted that the resolution adopted at the 3rd plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China had laid out significant plans for comprehensive reform and high-level opening-up, presenting new opportunities for deepening mutually beneficial cooperation and achieving common development between China and Central Asian countries.

He called for collaborative efforts to promote the Silk Road spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit, and advocated multilateralism and the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits to provide robust judicial support for the development and reform of China and Central Asian countries.