In conjunction, courts across the nation will make public juridical results related to maritime and commercial disputes between Chinese and foreigners, in a bid to further boost judicial transparency.

The measures were revealed during a national conference in Shenzhen yesterday on the judgment of maritime and commercial disputes.

"We are putting up the measures as a major juridical preparatory step to welcome the nation's WTO accession," Wan Exiang, vice-president of the Supreme People's Court, told the conference.

The package also includes the standardization of juridical and judgment regulations across the nation.

"The measures are essential after China's WTO entry because they will guarantee us fair and safe trade markets, which are integral parts of the world economy," said Wan.

Wan said he believes China's entry into the WTO will inevitably bring more maritime and commercial disputes with overseas trade partners as they expand their business and co-operation.

"We should play a big role in arbitration of those disputes but we first should be conversant with the rules that every country should abide by in the globalized economy," Wan said.

In addition, Wan said the juridical agencies will continuously expand international exchange with its foreign counterparts and strengthen training among Chinese judges, who should be fully informed on the rules and regulations relating to the WTO.

According to Wan, China has made rapid progress in the judgment of disputes of maritime and commercial affairs during the past two decades.

Most intermediate people's courts across China are capable of trying maritime and commercial cases, even though China has established 10 specific maritime courts, manning them with highly qualified judges.

Official statistics indicate that courts across the nation have accepted 63,000 maritime and commercial cases among Chinese and foreigners since 1978.

In the cases, more than 100 billion yuan (US$12 billion) has been involved.

"During the trials and arbitration, we believe we have equally protected the interest of Chinese and foreigners," Wan said.

(China Daily October 30, 2001)