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Nation seeks to curb transnational crime
By Qin Jize (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-12-10 06:40
SHENZHEN: Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo on Friday called on
procurators-general in Asian and European countries to strengthen
anti-corruption measures by improving transnational co-operation.
Wu made the remarks on the Second World Anti-Corruption Day when addressing
the opening ceremony of a three-day international meeting of procurators-general
from 43 countries and four international organizations, held in the city of
Shenzhen in South China's Guangdong Province.
The conference, aimed at fighting transnational crime, is the first of its
kind under the Asian European Meetings mechanism.
The Standing Committee of China's 10th National People's Congress the
country's top legislature gave its approval for ratification of the United
Nations Convention against Corruption about a month ago, a testimony of the
country's strong determination to combat corruption-related crimes. China now
has initiated the process of enacting necessary enabling legislation to join the
convention.
A total of 33 countries have ratified the convention so far.
Jia Chunwang, prosecutor-general of the Supreme People's Procuratorate of
China, said he would like to see more countries join and ratify the convention,
to help in "combating, preventing and controlling transnational corruption
crimes sooner and better."
According to Jia, a theme discussion entitled "enhance international
co-operation to jointly combat corruption" will be held on Saturday.
As the United Nations Convention against Corruption will formally come into
force next week, Jia made the pledge in front of some 300 representatives that
China would accelerate the development of its legislative and institutional
anti-corruption framework, including its actual implementation.
The major obstacles in cracking transnational corruption crimes lie in the
lack of efficient financial management and legislation, said Zhang Xuejun, chief
of the Guangdong Provincial People's Procuratorate.
Being one of the first regions that implemented the reform and opening-up
policy, Guangdong Province is at the frontier of the battle against corruption.
Zhang called for the establishment of an early warning system in foreign
currency management to prevent high-ranking officials from fleeing the country
with large amounts of money.
China's lawmakers are now working on the Law against Money Laundering, which
will help combat transnational corruption crime.
Though the Chinese Government has signed extradition treaties with 23
countries, and 71 criminal and civil judiciary assistance treaties with 47
countries, Zhang said, there are no treaties with the Untied States and Canada,
the destination for the majority of the criminals.
Throughout last year, the procuratorial organs at all levels in China placed
on file for investigation 43,757 State functionaries, among whom 11 were at
ministerial levels.
(China Daily 12/10/2005 page2)
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