China and Southeast Asian countries promised to combat crime
together.?
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 cooperation 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 for both China and
ASEAN particularly in fighting terrorism and cross-border crime,
said Thai Attorney-General Rawat Chamchalerm.
The prosecutors-general promised closer cooperation 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
cooperation 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.
China has been expanding its ties with the ASEAN countries. A
declaration it signed with ASEAN members in October last year
pledged to set up a new strategic partnership, which can be
translated into closer political ties, increasing trade and more
exchanges in various fields.
Next year's conference for prosecutors-general from China and
ASEAN countries will be held in Thailand.
(China Daily July 10, 2004)