Refined legal services streamline border trade

Tribunals located in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region's FTZ areas facilitate mediation of disputes

For lawyers like Amanjol Beken, working in Horgos, an important border city in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, providing legal advice to businesses and individuals from Kazakhstan has become commonplace.

Recently, he has been assisting a Kazakhstani logistics company that is in a contract dispute with a Horgos firm over transporting vehicles to Uzbekistan for 250,000 yuan ($35,100). Despite receiving a 100,000 yuan deposit and completing the job, the Kazakhstani company has yet to receive the remaining payment from the Chinese side, so it turned to Amanjol, who is fluent in the Kazakh language and well-versed in Chinese law.

"With the rise of international trade, I handle at least four or five consultation calls like this every day," Amanjol said. His experience demonstrates the growing need for legal assistance in handling foreign-related issues in Horgos, a critical hub linking China and Central Asia.

"Even though my workload has increased, my efficiency in resolving disputes has improved, and I feel more fulfilled due to the more diverse and accessible legal services available in Horgos," he said.

Situated on the China-Kazakhstan border, Horgos is a comprehensive, multi-functional port that combines road, rail, pipeline, air, optical cable and mail services, facilitating frequent business exchanges.

Last year, the port saw 1.37 million inbound and outbound trips, a 90 percent increase from the previous year, and exported 421,000 vehicles, marking a 38.6 percent year-on-year rise, setting a new record. Additionally, 8,730 China-Europe freight trains passed through the port last year, transporting 12.08 million metric tons of cargo, reflecting increases of 12.5 percent and 10.9 percent, respectively, compared to 2023, according to port management data.

To boost international trade, the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, covering areas in Urumqi, Horgos and Kashgar, opened in November 2023, helping to advance the development of a "golden corridor "between Asia and Europe.

To face the surge in foreign-related civil and commercial cases due to increasing business activities, Xinjiang has established three dedicated tribunals in these areas. The one in Horgos opened in December last year, and is already playing a considerable role in offering high-quality legal services to support high-level opening-up.