Zhou Qiang, president of the Supreme People's Court (SPC), called for more judicial efforts to serve overall COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control so as to achieve stable socio-economic development.

Zhou made the remarks while presiding over a meeting of the SPC's leading Party members group on May 5.

He said that courts across the nation need to better understand the latest instructions from the central authorities in epidemic prevention and economic work, and make sure the instructions are fully implemented.

Zhou urged all courts to intensify efforts in judgment execution and punish epidemic-related crimes according to law, to provide utmost protection for the people's safety and well-being. Courts nationwide need to coordinate development and security while performing their statutory duty in order to achieve social and economic stability, Zhou said, adding that courts should provide equal protection to all market entities and stimulate market vitality, implement the judicial measures released by the SPC to support the development of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, and always adopt a people-centered approach to protect the people's legitimate rights and interests.

Zhou also urged to reinforce the training of high-caliber personnel, stressing that the Party should take absolute leadership in building a judicial force that are loyal to the Party and the country, devote themselves to their careers, and serve the people. In-depth analysis is needed to strengthen judicial protection for talents and provide strong legal guarantee for the move to build China into a world-class hub for talent and innovation, he added.