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03/28/2024 10:10:25 pm

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China To Allow Foreigners Inside Chinese Courts

Chinese Supreme Court

(Photo : Reuters / Aly Song) Policemen guard the entrance outside Shandong Province Supreme People's Court in Jinan, Shandong province, October 25, 2013.

Zhou Qiang, the head of the Chinese Supreme People's Court and China's top judge, said they will allow foreigners to enter Chinese courts to listen to cases, according to a state media report on Tuesday.

China will allow more foreigners inside its courts to observe trials involving foreign citizens and firms on an "open court day," Zhou said.

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Zhou also said justices realized they needed to invite ambassadors and international personnel when they discussed disputes related to foreign affairs and allow foreign litigants to obtain legal aid. 

The Chinese government launched a legal reform as the public expressed discontent at what they see as miscarriage of justice. Foreigners and international firms who have become involved in lawsuits in China have cried foul over the secretive legal system of the country, according to FirstPost, an Indian-based journal.

The typical legal process in China does not allow courts to publicize court dates, rulings and other lawsuit details. In addition, it blocks foreign media from watching trials of human rights cases.

The top Chinese judge said the Supreme Court felt it important to opening lines of communication with other countries on legal matters, state-run China Daily said.

The Supreme Court president added that they needed to do this to improve China's judicial system and foster legal cooperation with the international community.

In July, the U.S. and U.K. conveyed their concern that they will not be allowed to listen to the trial of a foreign couple involved in case of pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline Plc. Chinese authorities previously said they would close the trial to the public.

Although a Chinese court announced a public prosecution for the foreign couple, foreign reporters were blocked from the trial.

The report did not say if foreigners would be allowed to listen to cases involving politically sensitive issues or if they would only be allowed inside on certain "open days."

President Xi Jinping's administration is willing to implement reforms in the judicial system as long as it does not jeopardize the control of the Chinese Communist Party, according to analysts.

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