Prosecutors-General from China and the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Friday pledged utmost efforts to provide mutual legal
assistance in combating crime.
A joint statement signed by the 10 ASEAN countries and China at the end of
the two-day China-ASEAN Prosecutors-General Conference promised to earnestly
implement legal assistance and extradition treaties already signed between China
and ASEAN countries as well as procuratorial co-operation agreements.
Procuratorates in China and ASEAN countries will work together on
investigations, evidence collection, arrests and extraditions as well as returns
of illegal gains, it said.
The joint statement is a significant step between for both China and ASEAN
particularly in fighting terrorism and cross-border crime, said Thai
Attorney-General Rawat Chamchalerm.
The prosecutors-general promised closer co-operation in the battle against
terrorism, illegal drugs and weapons trafficking, human smuggling, money
laundering, Internet crimes and corruption.
They agreed to set up a mechanism for direct procuratorial co-operation in
the border regions.
"The joint statement has... shown our determination to earnestly carry out
our duties as prosecutors, join hands in curbing crime and safeguard the
security, stability and development of the region," said Jia Chunwang,
procurator-general of the Supreme People's Procuratorate.
Next year's conference for prosecutors-general from China and ASEAN countries
will be held in Thailand.
