On 30 Oct. 2022, China’s legislature, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, ratified the “Treaty between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Kenya on Judicial Assistance in Criminal Matters” (中华人民共和国和肯尼亚共和国关于刑事司法协助的条约), which was signed by representatives of the People’s Republic of China in Beijing on 15 May 2017.
Cover Photo by Sergey Pesterev on Unsplash
Contributors: CJO Staff Contributors Team
China Eases Tax Refunds to Boost Inbound Tourist Spending
In 2025, China has lowered its departure tax refund threshold from 500 RMB to 200 RMB and doubled cash refund limits to 20,000 RMB while expanding eligible stores and streamlining processes, aiming to boost inbound tourism spending and promote Chinese products.
Chinese Courts Bolster Pregnant Workers' Rights Protection
In April 2025, China's Ministry of Human Resources and Supreme People's Court released typical labor dispute cases emphasizing stronger protection of pregnant employees' rights, including a case where unlawful job reassignment and salary reduction were ruled illegal.
China Revises Marriage Registration Regulation
China's revised marriage registration rules, effective May 2025, eliminate location restrictions, simplify procedures by removing hukou requirements, and align divorce processes with the Civil Code's cooling-off period.
China’s SPC Issues Foreign State Immunity Case Guidelines
In March 2025, China's Supreme People's Court (SPC) issued procedural guidelines for handling civil cases involving foreign state immunity, implementing the country's shift from absolute to restrictive immunity under the new Foreign State Immunity Law.
China Details Implementation Rules for Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law
In March 2025, China’s State Council issued detailed rules to operationalize the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, outlining asset freezes, trade and investment restrictions, and judicial countermeasures to protect national interests.
Chinese Court Upholds Ad Hoc Arbitration in Landmark Ruling
In March 2025, the Shanghai Maritime Court upheld the validity of an ad hoc arbitration agreement, marking a precedent-setting decision that supports Shanghai’s goal of becoming an international commercial arbitration center.
SPC Issues Prepaid Consumption Rules & Typical Cases
In March 2025, China’s Supreme People’s Court (SPC) issued a judicial interpretation and six guiding cases to tackle prepaid consumption disputes, invalidating unfair terms, protecting consumer refunds, and penalizing merchants who abscond with prepayments.
SPP Releases Guiding Cases on Civil Adjudication Supervision
In March 2025, China’s Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP) released new guiding cases to strengthen supervision over civil judgments, ensuring fairness and correcting errors in court rulings, covering disputes like private loans and traffic accidents.
First Tort Suit Under China’s Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law
In March 2025, China’s Supreme People’s Court (SPC) reported the first-ever tort suit under the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, enabling a Chinese firm to recover over CNY 84 million after a European partner withheld payment invoking a third country’s sanctions.
The Asian Business Law Institute (ABLI) and the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) will host their fourth joint webinar on July 10, 2024 (5:00–6:10 PM SGT), focusing on electronic service of documents and remote taking of evidence under the Service and Evidence Conventions, featuring expert speakers, with an early bird discount available until June 10.