Nansha Free Trade Zone Court makes many innovative advances in three years

On Dec 27, the People's Court of Nansha district of the Guangdong Free Trade Zone held a press conference to inform the public of the work of the Nansha Free Trade Zone Court since its establishment and to release reports of 15 typical cases involving cross-border e-commerce, financial leasing, intellectual property rights and other fields.

It was announced at the press conference that the Nansha Free Trade Zone Court has introduced more than 70 systematic reforms and innovations since its establishment.

In the past three years, it has received 2,828 new cases and concluded 2,704 ones. The number of free trade zone cases stemming from disputes in various fields  has increased, with financial matters accounting for 19.31%.

It should not be overlooked that new types of cases with possible origins in policies supporting innovation and free trade zone development are also emerging, including some in cross-border e-commerce, financial leasing, bills, and equity trading activities.

A well-known sports brand, Puma, had a trademark dispute with a trading company and the mediation was initiated in the Nansha Free Trade Zone Court. The lawyers of the two sides were respectively located in Shanghai and Yunnan, and the special mediator presided over the mediation in Guangzhou. The key procedural element of the case that led to its successful conclusion was use of the nation's first commercial multi-media mediation app of the Nansha Free Trade Zone Court.

In the past three years, the innovative foreign-related policies of the Nansha Free Trade Zone Court were highlighted as Hong Kong, Macao and Nansha promoted the construction of an open-ended new economic system.

The country's first jury system for Hong Kong and Macao was established to implement a special mediation system for their business activities.

Nansha has implemented a special mediation system for Hong Kong and Macao commercial activities, developed a management system for Hong Kong and Macao people's assessor and special mediators, and invited Hong Kong and Macao people's assessors to participate in trials and preside over disputes concerning the export trade of countries along the Belt and Road.　　

In the past three years, the Nansha Free Trade Zone Court has concluded 339 foreign-related cases, 12.54% of its cases on file. In August 2018, with the approval of the Supreme People's Court, hearing of first-instance foreign-related civil and commercial cases in the five jurisdictions of Guangzhou Tianhe district, Huangpu district, Panyu district, Nansha district and Zengcheng district were authorized with a commencement date of January 1, 2019. It is estimated that the number of foreign-related cases accepted by the Free Trade Zone Court will increase by more than 1,000 this year.