HARBIN — About 13.99 million notarial certificates were issued in China in 2016, and have been sent to more than 180 countries and regions for use, according to the Ministry of Justice on July 18.

Notary offices played an active role in promoting social management and preventing and resolving disputes, said Xiong Xuanguo, vice minister of justice, at a national notarial work conference in Harbin in Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province.

According to Xiong, the number of licensed notaries in China has surpassed 13,000, and the demand for notarial services has also been increasing.

“We should build online platforms and launch mobile phone applications so that people can apply for notarial certificates and pay fees online to enjoy more convenient services,” said Xiong.

He also called for data sharing among notary offices, public security departments, civil affairs departments and foreign affairs offices to better verify information.