Tribunal set for overseas trade disputes

Urumqi court to support IP rights and foreign-related commercial affairs

A tribunal specializing in foreign-related commercial disputes was established on Thursday in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, to support the region's high-level opening-up and promote the high-quality development of the Silk Road Economic Belt, court officials said.

The tribunal, located in the Urumqi area of the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, is the first and only specialized foreign-related judicial institution in Xinjiang. It aims to provide an optimal venue for international commercial dispute resolution, said Luo Zhiyong, deputy chief judge of the Supreme People's Court's 6th Circuit Court, which oversees major administrative, civil and commercial cases in northwest China, including Xinjiang.

"The tribunal plays an important role in optimizing Xinjiang's business environment and improving the region's international competitiveness," Luo said. "By handling foreign-related cases well, the court will demonstrate Xinjiang's openness, inclusiveness and confidence on the international stage."