The intermediate people's court of the municipal government in Zibo city – located in East China's Shandong province – has introduced a series of innovations designed to ensure the legitimate interests of enterprises are protected, in order to achieve the overall goal of creating a first-class business environment.
The court recently unveiled four measures to build a stable, fair, transparent and predictable commercial ecosystem by resolving some of the difficulties concerning business lawsuits.
Cutting down unnecessary procedures was a top priority, to pave the way for an upgrade in litigation services. It's understood that all auxiliary and transactional work – such as deliveries, evaluations and audits – will now be managed at one time in the litigation service center. Moreover, the official online platform can provide 24/7 litigation services.
To reduce time spent on the trial and execution process, the court has opened a fast-track channel for cases carrying a business tag, with a notification and supervision system established. The average trial time for business-related suits has, as a result, been reduced to 36.49 days.
The court is expected to shield the rights of enterprises that win a lawsuit, with special actions undertaken to strengthen enforcement procedures. As for August, enforcement actions against 360 individuals and 85 companies had been exposed. There were 236 actions that successfully handled 1,202 cases, with the amount enforced totaling 985.2 million yuan ($154.6 million).
Furthermore, lower costs are being introduced as a result of online trials, which save money on such items as photocopying fees and transportation expenses.
In addition, Zibo has launched the first integrated information platform for bankruptcy cases in Shandong province, in which parties can implement the full process – from filings to court procedures and auctions.
