Zhang Jun, chief justice and president of the Supreme People's Court (SPC) of China, met with Satiu Simativa Perese, chief justice of Samoa, and his delegation, in Beijing on Sept 18.
Zhang Jun, chief justice and president of the Supreme People's Court of China, meets with Satiu Simativa Perese, chief justice of Samoa, and his delegation, in Beijing on Sept 18. [Photo/court.gov.cn]
Zhang extended a warm welcome to Perese and his delegation. Noting that last year marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Samoa, Zhang said over the past half-century, the two countries have consistently respected each other and treated each other as equals and maintained close exchanges and cooperation in the judicial field. This visit will surely further deepen and advance judicial exchanges and cooperation between the two countries and open a new chapter in friendly judicial relations, he added.
During the meeting, Zhang briefed the delegation on China's progress in advancing the rule of law and the work of Chinese courts, with a particular focus on the development of digital courts, an area of interest to the Samoan side. He said that in recent years, China has made continuous progress in advancing the rule of law, and Chinese courts have made significant strides in their work, while the development of digital courts is a reflection of China's modernization drive in the judicial field.
Chinese courts are currently working to improve the quality and efficiency of adjudication by tapping their internal potential and leveraging technology, in an effort to address challenges such as growing caseloads and the difficulty of resolving disputes effectively, according to Zhang. China’s SPC stands ready to work with the Samoan side to continuously strengthen exchanges, mutual learning and practical cooperation, and contribute to the continued development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Samoa, Zhang said.
Perese thanked Zhang for the meeting, saying that the talks were friendly, practical and productive, further consolidating consensus and strengthening the friendship between the two sides. He expressed hope that the meeting would serve as an opportunity to further deepen judicial cooperation, jointly address challenges encountered in judicial practice in the two countries, and continuously improve the well-being of the two peoples.
The delegation also visited the People's Court Press, where they learned in detail about the use of artificial intelligence by Chinese courts to assist in adjudication and enforcement.
Officials from the SPC and the courts of Samoa attended the meeting.
