China to ratify UN corruption convention By Sun Shangwu (China Daily) Updated: 2005-10-24 05:14
China's top legislature is expected to ratify an international
anti-corruption convention this week, making it harder for crooked officials to
escape abroad with their ill-gotten gains.
The United Nations Convention against Corruption, signed by the Chinese
Government two years ago, is consistent with China's laws and its fight against
corruption, said Premier Wen Jiabao in a bill tabled to the Standing Committee
of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC).
Law-makers started a six-day session on Saturday to deliberate on a series of
daft laws as well as ratification of the UN convention.
The ratification will improve cross-border co-operation, easing the
repatriation of corrupt officials who flee abroad and the recovery of assets
taken out of China, said Wen.
The convention, signed by a total of 30 countries, will take effect on
December 14, this year.
Covering five categories, the convention includes directions on preventing
corruption and pursuing convictions for crimes such as bribery, embezzlement,
and money laundering, as well as guidelines for international co-operation.
Signatories are bound to provide assistance in the recovery of assets taken
out of the country by corrupt officials, said Vice-Foreign Minister Wu Dawei.
(China Daily 10/24/2005 page2)
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