The SPC stated that courts must not push litigants into mediation, however they must stop mediation if a party was using it to delay legal proceedings or if the method would be too costly in resolving the case.
In cases where China's national interests or public interests are involved, court decisions should be handed down timely, it said.
The SPC also told the courts to take measures to ensure that fair and legitimate agreements could be reached in the mediation and visit relevant parties after mediation to ensure implementation of the agreements.
