China apprehended 56 major economic crime suspects from more
than 20 countries and regions in 2007, according to the Ministry of
Public Security.
The ministry's spokesman, Wu Heping, told reporters on Wednesday
that the suspects involved came from places including the Kyrghyz
Republic, South Africa, the Philippines, Thailand and Myanmar.
The "splendid results" were achieved by intensified efforts last
year to apprehend fugitives who had allegedly fled abroad through
enhanced cooperation with international communities, Wu said.
The Chinese government had stepped up law enforcement
cooperation with countries including the Netherlands, the United
States and Canada through work-related contacts and data exchange,
as well as actual apprehensions.
Chinese police had also strengthened negotiations over
individual cases with countries including Australia, New Zealand,
Germany, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia and the
Philippines, Wu said. He said that the efforts had achieved
favorable results.
The ministry also sent police to international law enforcement
conferences to enhance mutual understanding and trust with their
foreign counterparts, Wu said.
The ministry said last year that Chinese police had traced more
than 300 wanted officials who allegedly fled abroad with illegal
gains since 1998, and 37 were arrested and returned to China in
2006 alone.
(Xinhua News Agency January 31, 2008)