BEIJING: Chinese prosecutors will step up cooperation with their counterparts in member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to fight corruption and cross-border money laundering, in order to counter new crime challenges and boost regional security, China’s top prosecutor said on Monday.
Prosecutor-General of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate Ying Yong made the remarks in an exclusive interview with China Daily ahead of the 15th China-ASEAN Prosecutors-General Conference, which is scheduled to open in Hong Kong on Tuesday. Since its launch in 2004, the conference has focused on pressing regional security challenges, adjusting its themes in response to changing crime patterns. It began with tackling transnational organized crimes, terrorism, drug trafficking and human trafficking, and has since expanded its scope to include smuggling, anti-corruption work and asset recovery.
In recent years, the agenda has covered emerging crimes such as transnational telecom fraud, cyber gambling, financial crimes and money laundering. The theme of this year’s conference will focus on combating money laundering, corruption and asset recovery in the technological age.
Ying said the themes “reflect the ongoing deepening of judicial and prosecutorial cooperation between China and ASEAN member states, as well as joint efforts made to tackle transnational crimes and emerging offenses”.
“Regardless of how the themes change, they always aim to meet the most urgent regional security needs,” he added. According to the SPP, corruption and money laundering are often closely linked, making them priority areas for joint efforts. Money acquired through corrupt means is frequently hidden or transferred using laundering methods, it said, noting that money laundering provides financial channels for corrupt activities, undermining economic order and social fairness. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
