SCO Photo: VCG

On Wednesday, the 20th Meeting of Chief Justices of Supreme Courts of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Member States was convened in East China's Zhejiang Province, which is expected to further consolidate and deepen judicial exchanges and cooperation within the framework of the SCO. 

Chen Wenqing, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee; Zhang Jun, president of the Supreme People's Court and Wang Hao, secretary of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee, delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. 

Zhang said that since its establishment, the member states of the SCO have always adhered to and carried forward the Shanghai Spirit featuring "mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations and pursuit of common development," making important contributions to deepening good-neighborliness and friendship, safeguarding the common interests of member states, and promoting regional and world peace and stability. Exchanges and cooperation in the judicial field are an important part of the SCO framework. Conducting sustainable, open and dynamic judicial exchanges and strengthening cooperation serves the common interests of all countries, said Zhang.

The Supreme People's Court of China is willing to widely build consensus on judicial cooperation with the supreme courts of participating countries, keep pace with the times to expand and enrich the platforms for judicial cooperation, and consolidate and enhance the achievements of judicial cooperation, said Zhang.

Zhang noted that through unity and cooperation, we will jointly address threats and challenges, further consolidate and deepen judicial exchanges and cooperation within the SCO framework, and continue to make new and greater contributions to maintaining regional security and stability, promoting regional prosperity and development, and building a closer community with a shared future for mankind.

Wang said that Zhejiang is an important birthplace of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and a crucial practice ground for the rule of law in China. Over the years, it has earnestly safeguarded social fairness and justice, adhered to and developed the "Fengqiao Experience" in the new era, made efforts to create a first-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based and internationalized. Furthermore, it has taken the lead in digital reform in the field of the rule of law, and promoted high-quality economic and social development with high-level security and the rule of law.

With a firm focus on the core task of building a demonstration zone for high-quality development and common prosperity, we will promote the construction of a safer and more law-based Zhejiang at a higher level in an integrated manner, actively participate in international exchanges and cooperation in the field of the rule of law, and make greater contributions to jointly building a more beautiful home within the framework of the SCO and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, said Wang. 

Zhang said that China's judicial organs have always implemented the overall national security concept, punished cybercrimes in accordance with the law, promoted the standardized and healthy development of science and technology through fair judgments, addressed common challenges in cyber security through exchanges and cooperation, and facilitated the healthy operation of the internet within the framework of the rule of law. 

"We hope to further deepen practical cooperation with all participating parties in combating cybercrimes, jointly build a legal barrier for cyber security, eliminate cross-border law enforcement and judicial barriers, pool efforts in cyber security governance, and safeguard the security and prosperity of cyberspace," said Zhang. 

Judiciary Chief, Chief justices and Chairmans of Supreme Courts from India, Iran, Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, along with Batir Tursunov, a deputy secretary general from SCO delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. Chief justices from Belarus and Russia gave their speeches online. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan, President of the Court of Cassation of Türkiye and officials of the Secretariat of SCO and the Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of SCO attended the opening ceremony.

Global Times