Zhou Qiang, president of the Supreme People's Court, addressed a symposium at Wuhan University on Sept 27.

The SPC will further strengthen the research and application of international law, give full play to the judicial function, firmly maintain the international order based on international law, serve a higher level of opening-up, and make positive contributions in building an open world economy and a community of shared future for mankind, said Zhou.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the SPC has resolutely safeguarded and implemented international law, and served the overall work for the country, he said.

The SPC gave full play to its foreign-related judicial function. It has set up an international commercial court, built a diversified dispute resolution mechanism for international commercial affairs and vigorously advancd modernization of the foreign-related trial system and capacity. The SPC has persistently adhered to international treaty obligations, insisted on multilateralism, actively participated in international cooperation and human rights dialogue, taken part in international rule-making, continuously strengthened exchanges and cooperation in international justice while advancing a combination of legal theory and juridical practice, and opened a new path for talent cultivation in the field.

Zhou called for further strengthening of research, application and talent cultivation in terms of international law to serve a higher level of opening-up, and the building of a community of a shared future for mankind. Efforts will be made to implement a guideline of the SPC for courts at all levels to service and guarantee further opening-up so as to provide powerful judicial services and safeguards, strictly enforce the rule of law, promote cooperation, abide by international treaties, pay more attention to the role of justice in settling international conflicts and disputes, firmly maintain the international order based on international law, and actively promote the reform of the global governance system.

It is also necessary to use think tanks in international law circles, expand academic exchanges, and deepen international judicial cooperation; persist in a problem-orientation approach to enhance research on forefront issues of international law and mature legislation experience overseas and to combine theory with practice so as to facilitate legal construction and development.

The long-term vision must be maintained and the talent training system in the field must be improved so that a team which has an international vision, thoroughly understands international rules and is able to take part in international practices is formed.