Initiative settlement boosted

China will work to better settle international business disputes in Belt and Road cooperation and offer equal protection to the legitimate interests of domestic and foreign parties involved, according to a guideline published on June 27.

The guideline, jointly issued by general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, China’s Cabinet, called for actively promoting international cooperation within the Belt and Road Initiative, settle business disputes in accordance with the law, and protection of legal rights and interests of concerned participants, so as to create an equal and fair environment for doing business.

The Supreme People’s Court will set up an international business court, and lead the establishment of an expert panel on international business affairs as part of efforts to support the settlements of international business disputes through mediation and arbitration, the guideline said.

The top court will also push forward the establishment of a diversified dispute settlement mechanism and enable the formation of a convenient and low-cost one-stop dispute settlement center.

It will also set up the first international business court in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, and the second international business court in Xi’an, Shaanxi province, the guideline said.

The principle of achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration should be observed when settling related disputes, it said.

Hospital services to be upgraded

China will step up Party leadership and Party building at public hospitals, according to a guideline released by the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee on June 25.

The guideline stipulates that deans of public hospitals are responsible for the medical care, education, research and administrative management work of hospitals under the leadership of the Party committees at the hospitals.

It also made clear the major responsibilities of the hospital Party committees, which include discussions and decisions on the reform and development of hospitals, fiscal arrangements, appointments of hospital officials and creating a more enabling environment for the development of expertise. Hospital Party committees are also urged to reinforce cultural development at hospitals and lead hospital staff to improve their work ethics.

Target deadline for pollutants

China is targeting an overall improvement in its ecology and environment and major reduction in emission of main pollutants by 2020, according to a guideline unveiled on June 24.

The guideline on winning the battle against air, water and soil pollution was published by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council.

According to the guideline, the country will develop and implement a three-year plan to fight air pollution.

The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and neighboring areas, and the Yangtze River Delta will be key areas for improving air quality, with measures and steps taken to improving industry, energy, transport and land use.

Emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide should drop at least 15 percent from 2015 levels, while chemical oxygen demand and emissions of ammonia nitrogen should decrease by over 10 percent, according to the guideline.

The country will continue to implement the action plan on fighting water pollution and address soil pollution, the guideline said.

Transport costs to be reduced

China will intensify efforts to boost transportation efficiency and reduce transportation costs, the State Council decided at an executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on June 27.

The role of railways in commodity freight and long-haul transport will be enhanced, with 60 percent of major seaports expected to be directly linked into the rail network by 2020, according to a statement released after the meeting.

More work will be done to link major ports along the Yangtze River with the rail network, said the statement.

The meeting also decided to accelerate the development of integrated transport, including road-rail and waterways-rail, and more will be done to boost rail services for the e-commerce sector. Improper fees levied on transport companies will be canceled, and fees charged for railway transport will be brought up to standard to further cut the logistical costs.

New business models in the transport sector will be guided to observe the rules of fair play, healthy growth and ensuring greater safety, the statement said.