Zhou Qiang, president of the Supreme People's Court, China's top court, delivers work report to the fourth session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC) and the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on Sunday. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - China's judicial authorities said Sunday the country had maintained "high pressure" on corruption to press on with an anti-graft drive lasting more than three years.

A total of 22 Chinese former officials at ministerial level or above, including former Chinese leader Zhou Yongkang, were prosecuted in 2015, while 41 were subject to investigation, a report on the work of the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) read.

Another report on the Supreme People's Court, meanwhile, said courts had concluded trials for Zhou and 15 other senior officials, showcasing "the Party and the country's resolute determination in cracking down on corruption," it said.

Both reports were made public on Sunday morning, shortly before a plenary meeting of the annual session of China's top legislature.

Highlights of work report by SPC head

 1,419 criminals convicted of harming state security

Chinese courts convicted 1,419 criminals of harming state security, including taking part in terrorist attacks and secessionist activities, in 2015, Chief Justice Zhou Qiang said on Sunday.

Chinese courts concluded the trial of 1,084 cases involving crimes that threatened state security, Zhou told a plenary meeting of the ongoing session of the National People's Congress (NPC).

 About 31,000 prisoners released in 2015

A total of 31,527 prisoners in China were released early last year thanks to an amnesty deal.

The amnesty was adopted by China's top legislature and signed by President Xi Jinping on Aug. 29, 2015, before a national commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.

The pardoned prisoners, including war veterans, and the very old, young or infirm prisoners, had been released by the end of 2015 as scheduled.

 Firm hand against threats of state security

Last year, Chinese courts convicted 1,419 criminals harming state security, including those taking part in terrorist attacks and secessionist activities, in 1,084 cases.

The courts also stepped up efforts against criminals who instigated secessionist activities; who led, organized and took part in terrorist groups; and who spread video and audio products about terrorism, he said.

Prosecutors took more efforts in prosecuting suspects involved in terrorists attacks, said Procurator-General Cao Jianming when delivering a work report on the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) on Sunday.

The SPP supervised prosecutors in Xinjiang and Tibet to better handle security-related problems, and worked with the SPC and Ministry of Public Security on proper application of law on terrorist attacks and criminal cases involving religious extremists.

This year, the SPP will make concrete efforts to improve its capacity of safeguarding state security and social stability, Cao vowed in his report.

 Large jump in terrorism convictions 

Chinese courts convicted more than 1,400 people last year for harming national security, including taking part in terrorism and secessionist activities.

Hundreds of people have been killed over the past few years in China's resource-rich Xinjiang province, strategically located on the borders of central Asia, in violence between the Muslim Uighur people, who call the region home, and ethnic majority Han Chinese. 

 China to build int'l maritime judicial center

China will set up an international maritime judicial center in its latest bid to protect national sovereignty and maritime rights.

Courts across China shall work to implement the national strategy of building the country into a "maritime power."

(We) must resolutely safeguard China's national sovereignty, maritime rights and other core interests," Zhou told nearly 3,000 lawmakers. "(We) must improve the work of maritime courts and build an international maritime judicial center."

According to the chief justice, some 16,000 maritime cases were concluded by Chinese courts last year, the most in the world. The country is also home to the largest number of maritime courts globally speaking, he added.

1.42 mln P2P lending cases concluded in 2015

China's court system handled a total of 1.42 million cases involving peer-to-peer (P2P) lending in 2015, involving 820.75 billion yuan (126.4 billion US dollars).

Courts at all levels correctly recognized the differences between P2P lending and illegal fund-raising, concluding 58,000 cases involving illegal fund-raising, financial fraud and other crimes, and convicting 72,000 people, Zhou added.

The SPC last year issued judicial explanation on P2P lending, recognizing lending among enterprises with conditions, in a bid to satisfy the demands of small and medium-sized companies for investment and financing, according to the report.

19,000 criminal cases on pollution concluded

China's court system concluded 19,000 criminal cases involving environmental pollution and undermining resources in 2015, up 18.8 percent year on year.

Courts at all levels also concluded 78,000 civil cases concerning environmental protection.

An intermediate court of eastern Fujian Province concluded the country's first public interest litigation concerning environment, according to the report.