Zhejiang to build integrated foreign-related legal service system to support high-level opening-up

The Justice Department of Zhejiang Province, committed to coordinating development and security, has formulated and issued a comprehensive plan with a "1+5+N" working framework to build an integrated, province-wide, efficient, and targeted foreign-related legal service system.

To strengthen the core capacity for foreign-related legal services, the department will build a unified service hub matrix. In response to challenges such as scattered resources, insufficient coordination, and weak supply in specialized sectors, it will focus on establishing one comprehensive hub — the Zhejiang Entrepreneurs Foreign-Related Legal Service Center — and two specialized hubs — the Zhejiang Overseas Chinese Legal Service Center, and the Zhejiang Foreign-Related Maritime and Commercial Legal Service Alliance. By linking these hubs, the department aims to integrate service resources across the province, expand service coverage, and enhance the overall supply capacity of foreign-related legal services.

Furthermore, the department will establish a fully integrated service model, covering five key areas: service layout, service experience, resource synergy, professional support, and risk management, by implementing multiple specific measures.

To optimize service coverage, a three-tier network of comprehensive hubs, provincial liaison points, and overseas service outposts will be developed to strengthen two-way legal service connectivity between domestic and overseas entities.

To improve accessibility, the department will integrate online and offline services by standardizing physical operations at service hubs and provincial liaison points, launching global legal service hotlines, and developing a one-stop online service platform to ensure efficient access to high-demand foreign-related services.

For resource synergy, the department will coordinate all judicial and administrative resources within the province, collaborate with external entities such as business chambers and trade promotion authorities, and establish regular exchange and collaboration mechanisms with judicial administrative organs in the Yangtze River Delta to facilitate resource integration and shared services.

Professional capacity will be enhanced through improved cross-border collaboration among lawyers, refined communication channels, and specialized training programs, which will nurture a tiered pool of leading, core, and emerging talents.

In addition, to build a robust risk management system that ensures seamless integration of preventive and remedial measures, compliance guidelines and country-specific risk lists will be released. Efforts will also include routine training sessions for enterprises and improvements to multi-channel dispute resolution mechanisms, aiming to create a closed-loop cycle of prevention before disputes, intervention during disputes, remedy after disputes, and review following disputes.

To underpin the system's long-term effectiveness, concrete efforts will be focused on three key priorities — defining accountability, industry regulation, and brand development. Judicial administrative departments at all levels will strengthen hierarchical coordination and cross-departmental collaboration. Measures will also be taken to coordinate strict regulatory oversight with industry self-discipline, promoting standardized legal practices.

The department will also focus on brand building and expanding publicity channels to continuously enhance the quality and efficiency of Zhejiang's foreign-related legal services.

Looking ahead, the Justice Department of Zhejiang will align its efforts with the province's goal of becoming a high-level opening-up frontier with a dynamic open economy. By providing full-chain legal support for both local enterprises expanding overseas and attracting foreign investment, Zhejiang aims to establish a replicable and scalable provincial model for high-quality foreign-related legal services.