China launches online case filing service for cross-border litigation

China's online court platform, a mini-program on the social networking application WeChat, has launched a case filing service for parties to cross-border litigation in civil and commercial matters.

The service is in accordance with a new set of regulations issued on Wednesday by the Supreme People's Court (SPC).

The move comes amid the SPC's wider efforts to provide more convenient and efficient litigation services for parties to lawsuits at home and abroad while regular COVID-19 control measures are in place.

As per the regulations, foreign nationals, residents of China's Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, Chinese mainland citizens who reside outside of the mainland, and enterprises and organizations that are registered in foreign countries, Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan, can file a case as a party to a cross-border lawsuit via the platform.

The responsible court, if unable to immediately determine whether an online application to file a case is eligible under the law, shall make a decision within seven working days.