CCTV9英语新闻：China and European legal exchange held in Suzhou（在线收听）

A conference for international judicial cooperation has opened in the eastern Chinese city Suzhou. The 2-day meeting aims to deepen exchanges between the law communities of China and Central and Eastern European Countries.

A big step forward in international judicial cooperation.

Presidents of Supreme Courts and leading legal figures in China and Central and Eastern European nations are gathered in Suzhou. As the Belt and Road Initiative draws these nations closer, the need for judicial cooperation is getting more urgent.

"The economic cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries is deepening, and the transnational civil and commercial disputes are increasing. All of our countries are facing different levels of organized crimes, terrorism, drug and cyber crimes. We need to work together more effectively to face these challenges," said Zhou Qiang, president of Chinese Supreme People's Court.

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message to the conference, saying he hopes the participants would provide sound judicial service and guarantee for the Belt and Road Initiative and common development of the countries.

"Our supreme court should be aware of its special place within legal system of our states, in order to contribute the constancy and unity of the rules in each of our countries, but also unity of the rules of intentional law," said Branko Hrvatin, president of Croatian Supreme Court.

Under the theme of Judiciary in Global Information Age, the 2-day conference will host various discussions on topics such as judicial reform and transparency, application of information technology and courts.

"The judicial reform is a profound change to the current system, to which reinforced top-down design is indispensable. Meanwhile, given the broadness of China and the great differences between the east, west and central areas, local explorations based on the practical conditions are allowed," Zhou Qiang said.

Relations between China and the Central and Eastern European countries have improved greatly in recent years. It's hoped this conference will push their judicial cooperation forward and strengthen exchanges among these countries. Lin Nan CCTV Suzhou Jiangsu Province.