Thursday Courts to issue English version of verdicts

An English-language version of a website operated by China’s top court will make it easier for foreigners to learn how the country’s courts make judgments.

It will also provide them with information about related judicial documents.

“We need to introduce the verdict website in English, as disputes involving foreign litigants are rising rapidly, and to assist in the preparation of related work,” said Li Liang, director of the Trial Management Department at the Supreme People’s Court.

Although verdicts must be written in Chinese to comply with the law, “We’d like to provide foreigners with a better guide in English on the website if they need to search for verdicts and related judicial documents,” Li said.

Since July 2013, the Chinese version has attracted more than 2 billion visits, including 500 million from overseas, and has published more than 20 million verdicts, according to the top court.