Xinhua Insight: Growing int'l cooperation boosts China's anti-corruption drive

China is eyeing closer cooperation with other countries to help counter cross-border corruption, as it prioritizes repatriating corrupt officials who have fled abroad.

During the Seventh China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue that concluded this week in Washington, the two sides agreed to enhance communication on anti-corruption work.

The two sides reaffirmed their G20 commitments on tackling foreign bribery, denial of safe haven and asset recovery. China is also considering joining the anti-corruption panel of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

As the country's war on graft expands to foreign battlefields, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has listed strengthening international cooperation, pursuing fugitives and recovering stolen assets as one of the seven major aspects of its anti-corruption campaign.

The inter-departmental "Sky Net" operation aimed at pursuing fugitives with economic offenses was launched in April. The police, procuratorates, diplomats and financial sectors are working together to haul in these rogues.

Cai Xia, a professor with the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, said international anti-corruption cooperation does not stop at capturing fugitives. Instead, China is focusing on "building a long-term mechanism for better judicial assistance with other countries."

The international community recognizes that corruption is a global issue, which cannot be addressed through one country's efforts.

China joined Interpol in 1984. In 2003 and 2005, it ratified the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and the UN Convention Against Corruption, respectively.

The APEC meetings in Beijing last year saw the adoption of the Beijing Declaration on Anti-Corruption, the first such pact mainly drafted by China. The United States, Australia, Canada and other countries with no extradition treaties with China signed it.

Observers expect China to steer the G20's agenda toward anti-corruption works when it holds the group's presidency in 2016, and there is great excitement over the probability of China joining the OECD's anti-corruption work panel.

The group adopted the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions in 1997.

OECD member states include the United States, Canada and Australia and other developed countries that are favorite destinations for corrupt Chinese officials.

Recent years have seen China take part as an observer in the OECD anti-corruption panel's meeting, but being fully involved will surely be of greater use.

"China's active play in international anti-corruption agencies will provide a favorable policy and institutional environment for anti-corruption work. With internal coordination and cooperation, costs of capturing fugitives will reduced significantly," according to Cai Xia.

Cai said the tightening net around Chinese criminals abroad will deter others from fleeing in the first place. Endi