The Shenzhen International Commercial Court was inaugurated on Friday, serving the innovation hub’s substantial demand for professional cross‑boundary dispute resolution and bolstering the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area’s high-level opening-up.
A poster child of China’s reform and opening-up and an economic engine of the 11-city cluster, Shenzhen has undergone more than 30 years of development in the field of cross-boundary judicial affairs, since establishing the country’s first foreign related economic tribunal in 1988.
From 2021 to 2025, Shenzhen courts concluded a total of 35,516 first-instance civil and commercial cases involving foreign parties, as well as parties from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, with judicial services extending to 62 countries and regions. Twenty-seven cases were selected as representative cases of resolving cross-boundary disputes in the Greater Bay Area.
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Shenzhen judicial authorities’ experience in efforts to align cross‑boundary rules and to enhance international legal services and collaboration mechanisms have been promoted nationwide.
In 2025, the central government required Shenzhen to establish a “one-stop”, diversified international commercial dispute resolution mechanism that integrates litigation, mediation, and arbitration.
In line with the call, the Shenzhen International Commercial Court was established under the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court, with exclusive jurisdiction over foreign-related commercial cases.
The new court’s jurisdiction covers foreign-related commercial cases at the first and second instance that fall under the jurisdiction of the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court; cases involving judicial review of arbitration awards and the confirmation of foreign-related mediation agreements; cases for the recognition and enforcement of civil and commercial judgments and rulings issued by foreign courts; as well as other cases that may fall under its jurisdiction.
Following the inauguration ceremony, the Shenzhen International Commercial Court held its first hearing, conducting a public trial of an international commercial case.
Pang Zheng, vice-president of the court, said the international commercial court will optimize jurisdiction mechanisms to standardize contractual agreements. Cross-boundary document services, particularly for cases involving Hong Kong, will be promoted to enhance efficiency. It will also implement a “boutique strategy” to produce high-quality judgments and landmark cases in a bid to enhance its global influence.
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Guo Huiqin, a National People’s Congress deputy, China’s top legislature, said the establishment of the Shenzhen International Commercial Court holds “a positive significance for advancing Shenzhen’s goal of building a world-class, market-oriented, law-based, and international business environment”.
“It will serve as a one-stop shop for connecting litigation, mediation and arbitration, strengthening the resolution of international commercial disputes and establishing Shenzhen as a leading destination for such services,” she said.
By promoting “soft connectivity” with global economic rules and ensuring stable and predictable judgments, the court will safeguard Chinese enterprises going global journey while boosting foreign investment confidence in the country, she added.
