A delegation from the Supreme People’s Court (SPC), led by its president Zhang Jun, inspected courts in Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province from July 21 to 23, reviewing the implementation of key judicial tasks and exploring ways to better support high-quality development through judicial services.

The delegation learned that the Jixi Intermediate People’s Court and primary-level courts under its jurisdiction have actively participated in joint training programs organized by the city’s social governance center. 

By using typical cases from the People’s Courts Case Database to explain adjudication rules, the programs have helped participating institutions improve their capacity to prevent disputes at the source and resolve them effectively.

The Jixi court has incorporated cultural initiatives into its Party-building work. A message board in its library gives staff the opportunity to express their views and concerns, enabling the court leadership to better understand their needs and provide targeted support.

Drawing on the customs of local Korean ethnic communities, the Jilin People’s Tribunal of the Primary People’s Court of Jidong County has developed innovative approaches to family dispute resolution. These include conducting mediation in parties’ homes and convening family meetings. As a result, more than 80 percent of its family dispute cases have been resolved through mediation, leading to the conclusion or withdrawal of the proceedings.

Zhang called on the courts to become more deeply involved in the standardized development of social governance centers and to strengthen coordination and professional exchanges with other participating institutions. Typical cases should be used to explain legal principles, clarify rules and facilitate dispute resolution, he said.

He also stressed the importance of attentive and practical support for court personnel. The leadership of courts should listen to their concerns, identify shortcomings in personnel management and address concrete problems to foster a stronger sense of cohesion and belonging, he added. 

Traditional Chinese culture and local customs should be incorporated into mediation where appropriate, he said, with family disputes addressed at an early stage and at their source to promote harmony and stability at the community level.

Zhang Jun, president of the Supreme People's Court, leads a delegation on an inspection of the social governance center at Jixi city, Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

The delegation visits the Jixi Intermediate People's Court. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

The delegation tours the Jilin People's Tribunal of the Primary People's Court of Jidong County. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

At a symposium held at the Hengshan Primary People’s Court in Jixi, the delegation held discussions with the presidents of underperforming primary courts to explore ways to strengthen their capacity. Sun Chengkun, a deputy to the National People’s Congress and Party chief of Jixi, recognized the progress made by the courts and offered suggestions on further strengthening the development of primary-level courts.

Zhang said that improving performance is only the starting point and that every court should strive for excellence. Effective implementation of all work tasks is essential, he noted. 

Courts should strengthen the development of both political and professional capacity in an integrated manner, improve adjudication management, ensure that leading officials fulfill their supervisory responsibilities, and enhance the professional capability of judicial personnel, Zhang said. 

Persistent institutional problems at the primary level should be addressed through targeted measures, and sound conduct should be promoted to provide a solid foundation for judicial impartiality, he added.

The delegation meets with the presidents of underperforming primary courts at a symposium held at the Hengshan Primary People’s Court in Jixi. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

Sun Chengkun, a deputy to the National People’s Congress and Party chief of Jixi, recognizes the progress made in strengthening primary courts and offers suggestions on their further improvement. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

At a symposium held at the Heilongjiang High People’s Court, NPC deputies Chen Yujia, Ma Bing and Liang Daihua, together with a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Zhao Kunyu, spoke positively of the courts’ work and offered suggestions.

Dang Guangsuo, president of the Heilongjiang High People’s Court, reported on the work of courts across the province. Presidents of several intermediate people’s courts gave comments and suggestions based on their day-to-day work. 

Bian Xuewen, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Heilongjiang Provincial Committee, secretary of the provincial commission for discipline inspection and director of the provincial supervisory commission, also addressed the meeting.

The delegation attends a briefing and holds discussions on the work of Heilongjiang courts with deputies to the National People’s Congress and a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

Bian Xuewen, a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Heilongjiang Provincial Committee, secretary of the provincial commission for discipline inspection and director of the provincial supervisory commission, sets out requirements for the work of Heilongjiang courts. NPC deputies Chen Yujia, Ma Bing and Liang Daihua, and CPPCC National Committee member Zhao Kunyu offer suggestions on the work of the courts. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

Zhang commended the progress made by Heilongjiang’s courts under the leadership of the provincial Party committee and with the oversight and support of the provincial people’s congress, government and CPPCC committee. 

He noted that many areas of their work now rank among the best-performing courts nationwide.

The relatively moderate caseload pressure in Heilongjiang reflects the results of efforts to prevent disputes at the source, Zhang said, adding that it also places greater responsibility on courts to handle every case to a high standard. He urged courts to serve the overall interests of the country, uphold justice for the people and provide strong judicial safeguards for Heilongjiang’s high-quality development.

Based on the inspection findings and the discussions, Zhang outlined three priorities for courts at all levels.

First, political development should be effectively integrated into judicial work. Courts should carry out adjudication and enforcement in light of the broader needs of economic and social development and strive to realize the organic unity of political, legal and social effects. 

Leading officials should set an example by participating in collegial panel deliberations and presiding over judges’ meetings, helping judges update their judicial approaches and improve their overall capabilities.

Second, adjudication management should be more scientific. Management mechanisms should conform to judicial principles and ensure that judges assume appropriate responsibilities. The system of indicators for assessing adjudication quality should be continuously improved, with priority given to quality while also taking efficiency and outcomes into account. Assessment results should be used to guide judges in strengthening their professional capability and substantively resolving disputes. 

Performance evaluation should be strengthened by refining and improving evaluation criteria in light of actual conditions, and their results should be effectively applied to distinguish between diligence and inaction, greater and lesser contributions, and stronger and weaker performance.

Leading officials should fulfill both their administrative and supervisory responsibilities and adopt people-oriented management practices that motivate judicial personnel.

Third, rigorous standards should be applied to team development. The professional conduct of court personnel directly affect the public’s perception of fairness and justice. Courts should therefore maintain strict discipline and strengthen their supervision over both case adjudication and personnel management.

The unified national digital platform for case handling and court administration should be fully utilized to further regulate the exercise of judicial power. 

Long-term mechanisms should be improved to strengthen professional conduct, safeguard judicial authority and enhance public confidence in the judiciary. Accountability and reporting systems should be rigorously implemented, to prevent improper interference and sever illicit interest links — with the aim of building a loyal, upright and responsible judiciary.

The delegation visits the Heilongjiang High People’s Court. [Photo/court.gov.cn]

During the inspection, Zhang held working meetings with Xu Qin, secretary of the CPC Heilongjiang Provincial Committee and chairman of the Standing Committee of the Heilongjiang Provincial People’s Congress; Liang Huiling, deputy secretary of the provincial Party committee and governor of Heilongjiang; and Bian Xuewen.

Dang Guangsuo and Sun Chengkun also participated in the inspection.