Beijing No 4 Intermediate People's Court promotes pre-litigation resolution of foreign-related disputes

Li Yingxin, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and vice-president of the Beijing No 4 Intermediate People's Court, said that treating litigants with empathy and understanding in the resolution of foreign-related disputes has led to a better experience, greater security and stronger sense of satisfaction for foreign parties involved in legal proceedings.

Li made her comments in an interview with Legal Daily.

The Beijing No 4 Intermediate People's Court has jurisdiction over foreign-related cases in the Chinese capital.

"Foreign-related disputes often present challenges such as difficulties in service of process and enforcement, as well as long adjudication periods," said Li. In response to this, the court flexibly employs mediation methods to resolve foreign-related disputes.

Resolving disputes through mediation often leads to greater acceptance of the outcome by both parties, making them more likely to voluntarily comply and avoid enforcement proceedings. However, in the mediation of foreign-related cases, parties frequently encounter issues such as language barriers and cultural differences, which can affect the progress of dispute resolution.

She said that Beijing No 4 Intermediate People's Court has introduced five foreign mediators to participate in dispute resolution. This has allowed foreign parties to have smoother experience in legal proceedings, and further promote the pre-litigation resolution of disputes, according to Li.

"Since the establishment of the one-stop diversified resolution center for international commercial disputes at the court in 2021, the center has mediated 322 international commercial disputes involving parties from nearly 40 countries and regions, with the amount in successfully mediated disputes exceeding one billion yuan ($139.2 million)," she added.