The Supreme People's Court of China on Tuesday held a forum on judicial cooperation in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. The Chief Justice and President of China's Supreme Court, Zhou Qiang, stressed the need for the judiciaries of nations involved in the Belt and Road Initiative to pool their wisdom and ensure the rule of law.

Judges and guests from 21 countries and three international organizations participated in the Maritime Silk Road International Forum on Judicial Cooperation in Quanzhou. They discussed the way forward for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) through strengthening judicial cooperation and promoting mutual development.

Zhou said the forum aims to carry forward the spirit of the Silk Road, develop a platform for judicial exchanges and cooperation among the Belt and Road countries and provide robust judicial service to all countries and the high-quality construction of the BRI.

The meetings centered on five major topics, including recognition and enforcement of foreign civil and commercial judgments and the protection of rights and interests during COVID-19.

Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam Chong Wan Won said fostering synergy between the BRI and Belt and Road countries is essential to facilitate trade and investment. To support businesses, this would include ensuring an efficient process for dispute resolution, the chief justice said.

The BRI continues to expand its "circle of friends": 140 countries and 32 international organizations have joined the group to work on policy coordination, facilitate connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people exchanges.

"We are expected to adapt to the changing times, share our respective judicial experience on all fronts and our insights in a candid manner and contribute our wisdom and efforts to fostering a fair and equitable international maritime order and building a maritime community with a shared future," Zhou said at the opening ceremony of the forum.

Participants agreed that judiciaries of various countries should strengthen international cooperation in judgment recognition and enforcement and foreign law ascertainment in the face of increasing global challenges.

They believe it is critical to cultivate common understanding and hold regular dialogue among the stakeholders to share the same objectives and agree upon ways to attain those goals.

(Cover: The busy scene of the Shihu Port Container Terminal and the Lingang Free Trade Zone under construction in Quanzhou, a coastal city in east China's Fujian Province, January 22, 2021. /CFP)