China has established a relatively complete maritime judicial system after combining "international maritime judicial norms" with "Chinese characteristics," Vice President of the Supreme People's Court Cao Jianming said on Thursday.

Cao made the statement at an ongoing nationwide maritime judicial working conference held in Shanghai.

China founded six maritime courts in Dalian, Tianjin, Qingdao, Shanghai, Wuhan and Guangzhou in 1984. Courts were later added in Ningbo, Xiamen, Beihai and Haikou to provide a relatively complete maritime judicial network, the official said.

He said China's maritime courts primarily deal with cases of maritime rights infringement, maritime business conflicts and other entanglements. The courts had solved a great many cases, protecting the legal rights of organizations and individuals involved, and safeguarding China's shipping industry and trade.

Cao said China's maritime courts are likely to deal with more cases of oceanic environmental protection in the future.

(Xinhua News Agency October 27, 2006)