1st LD-Writethru: China needs int'l cooperation to hunt fugitive officials

Disciplinary inspectors of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Wednesday were told to improve cooperation with law enforcers abroad in the hunt for fugitives and asset recovery.

Corrupt officials must be brought to justice in China, said the communique of the fifth plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), which closed Wednesday morning.

Disciplinary organs should improve coordination and cooperation with those countries and regions known to be harboring the most-wanted fugitives. They must work hard to implement the Beijing Declaration on Fighting Corruption adopted at the APEC meeting in November, and prevent corrupt officials from heading overseas.

The Beijing Declaration suggests the APEC members to eliminate corruption through extradition and judicial procedure, with more flexibility in recovering the proceeds of corruption.

China is embroiled in an anti-corruption campaign that requires considerable international cooperation in apprehending suspects, notably the recently concluded Fox Hunt 2014, an intense six month campaign to repatriate fleeing suspects. Chinese police filed applications in over 90 countries and regions and altogether 680 fugitives were brought back to China to face justice.

The CCDI opened a new section on its website in December -- anti-corruption, fugitive repatriation and asset recovery (www.ccdi.gov.cn/special/ztzz) -- to help people at home and abroad pass on intelligence. Endi