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China, ASEAN issue joint statement on legal assistance

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-11-25 22:38

HANOI: The sixth meeting of prosecutors- general from China and member countries of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) closed here on Wednesday with participants coming up with a joint statement demonstrating determination to combat transnational organized crimes.

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Speaking at the closing ceremony, Head of Vietnam's Supreme People's Procuracy and chairman of the conference Tran Quoc Vuong said participants discussed many important issues and agreed on measures to enhance cooperation in mutual legal assistance in criminal matters among procuratorial offices of ASEAN countries and China to effectively fight against transnational organized crimes.

Under the joint statement approved at the meeting, prosecutors- general affirmed the necessity for collaboration in the fight against terrorism and terrorism sponsorship, human trafficking, drug trafficking, cross-border smuggling, corruption, money laundering, hi-tech crimes and other transnational crimes.

The prosecutors-general agreed that the criminal law system of their countries should be improved to facilitate the legal assistance in criminal matters among countries in the region.

ASEAN countries and China should establish an effective mechanism for mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, said the statement.

Participants also agreed that procuratorial offices of ASEAN countries and China should promote visits between their top officials, enhance cooperation in personnel training and share information and experiences in combating crimes, according to the statement.

The China-ASEAN Prosecutors-General Conference was initiated by China's Supreme People's Procuratorate in 2004. The aim of the conference is to strengthen exchange and cooperation among prosecution services of China and ASEAN countries.