Jurisdiction in foreign-related legal cases clarified

China is adjusting jurisdiction over foreign-related civil and commercial cases to offer litigants greater convenience and accommodate new needs in the decades-long process of reform and opening-up, the country's top court said.

The Supreme People's Court issued a guideline on Tuesday, stating that district-level courts are responsible for handling civil and commercial disputes involving foreign litigants, while intermediate-level courts will hear foreign-related cases involving large amounts of money, complicated circumstances, multiple litigants or social repercussions.

The guideline will come into effect on Jan 1.