Zhou Qiang, China's chief justice, delivered a work report of the Supreme People's Court (SPC) on Friday at the first session of the 13th National People's Congress.[Special coverage]

Following are highlights of his report:

WORK FOR 2013-2017

-- The SPC heard about 82,383 cases and closed about 79,692 ones, up 60.6 percent and 58.8 percent over the previous five-year period respectively.

-- Local courts nationwide heard about 88.97 million cases and closed 85.98 million ones, up 58.6 percent and 55.6 percent over the previous five years respectively.

-- A total of 6.07 million suspects were convicted in the first trials of 5.49 million criminal cases.

-- A total of 195,000 graft cases including bribery and embezzlement were concluded, involing 101 officials at and above ministerial level.

-- A total of 42,000 criminal cases including offenses related to food and drug safety were concluded.

-- Chinese courts reopened trials of 6,747 criminal cases and rectified the sentences.

-- A total of 2,943 suspects prosecuted by the state were acquited.

-- A total of 31,527 convicts were granted amnesty.

-- Chinese courts tried 683,000 cases of intellectual property rights.

-- Chinese courts heard 1,383 public interest litigation cases for environmental damage lodged by prosecutors, and another 252 such cases filed by non-governmental organizations.

-- A total of 85 judges died of fatigue or assaults on duty.

-- The SPC punished its 53 staff members for violating Party disciplinary rules and law.

-- A total of 3,338 staff members at local courts nationwide were caught misusing their power, 531 of whom were prosecuted.

-- A total of 1,762 leading officials of courts were held accountable for poor leadership.

PLAN FOR 2018

-- The SPC will launch a large-scale education campaign of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and the spirit of the 19th Communist Party of China National Congress.

-- The SPC will step up crackdown upon infiltrative, subversive and separatist activities, terrorism, organized crimes, porns, gambling, drugs, human trafficking, pyramid schemes, illegal fundraising, and graft.

-- The SPC will create a better legal environment for economic development and enhance protection of property rights.

-- The SPC will provide better judicial service for ordinary people, respect lawyers' right to exercise their duties, and make sure the execution of court orders.

-- The SPC will continue pushing forward judicial reforms.

-- The SPC will further enhance transparency of court proceedings and legal documents.

-- The SPC will discipline judges and court staff more strictly and uphold a zero tolerance policy on corruption.

More;

Chinese courts to better protect property rights: chief justice

Chinese courts will improve judicial work toward the goal that "property will be safer and rights better protected," Zhou Qiang, China's chief justice, said Friday.

The courts will work to create a sound legal environment for business and enhance protection of property rights, Zhou said when delivering a work report of the Supreme People's Court (SPC) at the first session of the 13th National People's Congress.

China rectifies over 6,700 convictions from 2013-2017

Chinese courts at various levels have overturned convictions in 6,747 criminal cases after retrials in the past five years, the Supreme People's Court said Friday.

Among the cases, 39 major wrongful convictions were corrected, including the cases of Huugjilt and Nie Shubin, said a report delivered by Chief Justice Zhou Qiang at a plenary meeting of the annual session of the National People's Congress.

Graft cases involving 101 high-ranking officials concluded from 2013-2017 in China

China's court system has concluded graft cases involving 101 former officials at the provincial and ministerial level or above over the past five years, a work report of the Supreme People's Court said Friday.

Courts at various levels concluded 195,000 graft cases from 2013 to 2017, implicating 263,000 people, said the report to be delivered by Chief Justice Zhou Qiang at a plenary meeting of the annual session of the National People's Congress.

A total of 13,000 people were convicted of offering bribes, the report said.

China's chief justice vows to safeguard Constitution's authority

Zhou Qiang, China's chief justice, vowed to firmly safeguard the authority of the Constitution and crack down upon any constitutional violation, in a work report to the national legislature Friday.

Chinese courts will exercise their power independently, righteously and in line with law, said the report of the Supreme People's Court (SPC), delivered by Zhou at the first session of the 13th National People's Congress.

China improves judicial services, ensures fairness, justice: report

Letting the public feel fairness and justice in every judicial case is the goal of courts across China, a work report of the Supreme People's Court (SPC) said Friday.

From 2013 to 2017, the SPC handled 82,383 cases and concluded 79,692 cases, 60.6 percent and 58.8 percent, respectively, higher than those in the previous five years, according to the report available to the media.

The report will be delivered by Chief Justice Zhou Qiang at a plenary meeting of the on-going first session of the 13th National People's Congress Friday afternoon.

31,527 prisoners granted amnesty in 5 years: supreme court

A total of 31,527 prisoners were granted amnesty across China in the past five years, a work report of the Supreme People's Court (SPC) said Friday.

Chinese courts have strengthened efforts to protect human rights in judicial practices, according to the report delivered by Chief Justice Zhou Qiang at a plenary meeting of the ongoing annual session of the National People's Congress.

Death penalty decisions were strictly reviewed to make sure that death sentences only apply to an extremely small number of criminals for extremely severe offenses, it said.