You can generally include an arbitration term in contracts. Arbitration can be cheaper and faster than suing. In some cases, arbitration can be even more binding.

Point in case - you get a contract with a Chinese company, and state that the appropriate court for all claims is in your home town, in California. You sue the company, and win (as they don't even show up). Then you go to the Public Security Bureau (police) office in their town, and ask them to help size assets. The Chinese police will ask for a Chinese court order, but when you go to a Chinese court they tell you that your contract explicitly states that you should be back in California, and they have no right to intervene. On the other hand, if the contract is worded right, international arbitration treaties will kick in (so the Chinese courts should accept the arbitration decision), basically everyone worth speaking of has signed them. At least, that's my (unprofessional) impression from reading the China Law Blog (i.e. http://www.chinalawblog.com/2010/02/arbitration_in_your_chin...)

But I am not a lawyer, and this is not advice.