China's top judge says foreigners to be allowed into Chinese courts

Zhou Qiang, President of China's Supreme People's Court, attends National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, March 7, 2013. REUTERS/Stringer

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's top judge has said that foreigners will be regularly allowed into courts to listen to cases, state media reported on Thursday, as the government embarks on legal reform at a time of public discontent over many perceived miscarriages of justice.

The announcement by Zhou Qiang, president of the Supreme People's Court, could have implications for foreigners and foreign businesses, which have increasingly become embroiled in lawsuits in China and complained about China's secretive judicial system.