Top legislature ratifies China, Kazakstan criminal transfer treaty

The top legislature on Wednesday ratified a Sino-Kazakhstan criminal transfer treaty on judicial cooperation.

The bilateral treaty was signed in February 2011 and was submitted for approval by the State Council, China's cabinet, to the bimonthly meeting of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, which ended Wednesday.

The treaty is "in accord with the basic principles of Chinese laws and judicial practice, and meets Chinese interests and real demands," according to a State Council statement.

Minister of Justice Wu Aiying told the bimonthly meeting that the treaty aimed to "better rehabilitate criminals, alleviate pressure on Chinese prisons and boost bilateral judicial cooperation."

The treaty specifies principles to follow in order to transfer criminals of the other nationality.

It says after the transfer, the recipient country should continue the original sentence but it can also adjust the penalties in line with law.

China and Kazakhstan signed a judicial assistance treaty in 1993 and an extradition treaty in 1996, paving the way for further bilateral judicial cooperation. Endit