G20 partnerships help fight cross-border corruption

Chinese experts and professionals have worked closely with partners from G20 member countries to help combat cross-border corruption, according to a Beijing-based G20 anti-corruption research center.

Wang Xiumei, executive director of the research center, said it has worked together with colleagues from G20 members and adopted many valuable proposals that have aided Chinese judicial authorities in successfully tackling a dozen major cross-border corruption crimes and getting several fugitives repatriated to face justice.

The center was set up at Beijing Normal University in September 2016 as one of the achievements of the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. It has specialized in the analysis of pursuing fugitives and recovering illegal funds

During the summit, G20 members agreed to launch the anti-corruption campaign and refused to offer corrupt officials "safe haven". They also passed the G20 Anti-Corruption Action Plan 2017-18.

Wang said the research center intended to invite dozens of experts and professionals, especially from Western countries, such as the United States and Canada, as visiting scholars who will conduct targeted research on the laws and legal procedures in those countries in order to secure the return of the fugitives and return their ill-gotten money.

Moreover, they will promptly share academic achievements and compare domestic and foreign laws and legal procedures involving extradition of fugitives and confiscation of their illegal funds, as well as analyzing some typical cases to solve the practical problems.

Wang said they will hold a seminar in Beijing in March during which experts from G20 members will address their concerns and exchange ideas to seek solutions to difficulties in the cooperation between China and Western countries to capture fugitives and recover their illicit assets.

"In particular, we will take the opportunity to fully discuss with each other and put forward proposals for our judicial authorities to target fraud and money-laundering crimes involving corrupt fugitives, and to prevent them from using the dirty money to obtain 'green cards' and invest in businesses overseas," she said.