Zhou Qiang, president of the Supreme People’s Court (SPC), said the new cross-regional court and the intellectual property rights courts have played an exemplary role in advancing the country’s judicial reform, which should be further deepened.

China established the Shanghai No 3 Intermediate People’s Court in late 2014. It handles major government-related civil and commercial cases not only from Shanghai but from other regions as well, marking a judicial reform towards improving the independence of the court system. The country also launched specialized intellectual property rights courts in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou in 2014 to strengthen protection in that legal area.

A meeting was held on Dec 28, 2015 in Shanghai to mark the first anniversary of the establishment of the Shanghai No 3 Intermediate People’s Court and the Shanghai intellectual property rights court. Attending the meeting, Zhou said the two courts mark a meaningful attempt of the court system to implement the judicial reform blueprint of the central authorities and are accumulating experience other regions may turn to in setting up similar courts.

Zhou also said judicial reform will be further emphasized to improve the credibility of the court system and help promote the country’s healthy social and economic development.