Xi calls for more international judicial cooperation

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, addresses the opening ceremony of the 22nd annual conference and general meeting of the International Association of Prosecutors (IAP) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 11, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

Addressing the opening ceremony, Chinese top legislator Zhang Dejiang said that China's national legislature has revised civil and administrative procedure laws to allow prosecutors to institute public interest litigation.

"China has been actively promoting international and regional judicial cooperation, joined international conventions and signed bilateral judicial assistance and extradition treaties," said Zhang, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

He said China has delivered its commitments in international conventions and played an important role in punishing international crime and developing a global governance based on democracy and rule-of-law.

He said all countries should learn from and support each other to establish a more reliable, practical and efficient international judicial cooperation system.

Zhang praised the International Association of Prosecutors for championing international judicial cooperation and their commitment to making universal the rule-of-law, fairness and justice, as well as respect for human rights.

"Judicial institutions, particularly procuratorates, have a shared mission to combat crime, protect human rights, punish corruption and safeguard justice," Zhang said.

He expressed the hope that all participants at the meeting would have in-depth discussions on how to foster a judicial guarantee for the development of their countries, ranging from combating crime, resolving disputes and protecting public interest to fostering an orderly, rule-of-law environment.