China's top legislature approved a pilot program on June 27 that will speed up trials for minor criminal offenses.

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) adopted a resolution authorizing the Supreme People's Court and Supreme People's Procuratorate to start the program.

Cases can be fast-tracked when evidence is sufficient, the law is not contested, the defendant pleads guilty and sentencing will be no more than one year or a fine, according to the resolution.

The fast-track trials can apply to minor criminal cases such as traffic offences, minor theft or fraud, assault and robbery.

The pilot will run for two years, in 18 cities including Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai and Tianjin, where such cases are often backlogged.