Anti-corruption statement proposed by China, US: APEC official

Alan Bollard, executive director of the APEC Secretariat, speaks at a news briefing in Beijing, Nov 6, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - An anti-corruption statement will be included in outcome documents of the on-going Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings, an APEC official said Thursday.

Alan Bollard, executive director of the APEC Secretariat, said the Beijing Statement on Anti-corruption has been proposed not only by the leadership of China "but also from the United States."

Bollard said at a news briefing that the statement will result in the establishment of a group "which could get the enforcement agencies together across the APEC region and allow them to pass on the information on particular cases with one another."

"This is necessary for us to track cases across borders within the APEC region and even to follow up and recover assets if they are illegally moved," Bollard said.

This year, China intensified efforts in its anti-corruption campaign to snag crooked officials who have absconded overseas.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Oct. 2 that China stands ready to enhance cooperation with the U.S. side in criminal manhunt and illicit-money recovery.

APEC is an important economic forum in the Asia Pacific with 21 member economies including China, the United States, Japan and Australia.

Police authorities of Australia said last month they are cooperating with the Chinese authorities in hunting down corrupt Chinese officials who fled and settled in Australia.

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