The Supreme People's Court (SPC) released the first batch of typical cases on mediating foreign-related commercial and maritime disputes on July 10, aiming to bolster the development of the foreign-related rule of law and promote high-standard opening-up.

The six cases summarize the experiences of courts at various levels in applying diversified dispute resolution methods in handling foreign-related commercial and maritime cases in recent years, forming a new paradigm of international commercial mediation and demonstrating the core values of "mutual trust, win-win result, harmony and mutual assistance" where traditional Chinese culture intertwines with modern legal rules. 

The cases involve parties from six countries including Singapore, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Italy, and the United States, showcasing the commitments of Chinese courts to innovation in establishing diversified dispute resolution mechanisms, ensuring equal protection of the legitimate rights and interests of both Chinese and foreign parties, safeguarding high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and serving high-standard opening-up. They also demonstrate the vitality of the Chinese experience in global governance.

Case one involves a dispute over the quality of an overseas railway project, which, if not resolved in a timely manner, will directly impact the progress of the project. Case two concerns a dispute over an overseas coal-fired power plant project, where the parties disagreed on technical issues regarding the equipment in their transaction. 

In handling the two cases, the courts resolved the disputes through mediation in accordance with the law, providing judicial safeguards for the construction of infrastructure in Belt and Road cooperation and translating the concept of “extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits” into concrete practice.

Case three involves a compensation claim of millions of dollars arising from the export of products by a Chinese private enterprise to the European Union market. Case four involves a dispute between Chinese and ROK parties over unjust enrichment in the construction of a building in Northeast China’s Jilin province. 

The courts successfully resolved their disputes through mediation, helping the private enterprises overcome challenges and solidifying the legal foundation for a sound business environment. The resolution of these cases also sent out a clear message of Chinese courts in actively serving both Chinese and foreign business entities.

Case five involves a cross-border trade dispute between a US company and several Chinese private enterprises. Case six concerns a dispute over equity transfer between a Singaporean investment company and two Shanghai-based companies. 

In handling these cases, the courts upheld the principle of equal protection of both domestic and foreign entities and achieved win-win outcomes, where foreign investors safely recovered their investment returns while domestic enterprises maintain normal operations. This is conducive to stabilizing expectations of foreign investors and enhancing their confidence in investing in China.

The SPC said that courts nationwide are committed to providing a "Chinese solution" featuring justice, efficiency, convenience and low cost to resolve commercial and maritime disputes, contributing to the building of a world-class, market-oriented business environment governed by a sound legal framework, and providing strong judicial services and safeguards for the country’s high-standard opening-up and high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.