China News Service, Beijing, November 5 (Reporter Xie Yanbing) The draft Anti-Cross-Border Corruption Law is being submitted to the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress for its second review. During the group deliberation, participants believed that the formulation of the Anti-Cross-Border Corruption Law marked the transition from practical exploration to the finalization of the rule of law in China's anti-corruption and foreign-related legal construction, and contributed Chinese wisdom to the global anti-cross-border corruption cause.
"Cross-border corruption cases face practical dilemmas such as difficulty in discovery, evidence collection, recovery, and conviction, and there is an urgent need for special legislation." During the group review, Shahrhat Ahan, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said that China's anti-cross-border corruption regulations have long been scattered in the Supervision Law, Criminal Law, International Criminal Judicial Assistance Law and other laws, and there is a lack of specialized laws. This draft fills the gap in special legislation against cross-border corruption and realizes the transition from decentralized regulation to unified legislation.
Tan Chengxu, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress, said that the anti-cross-border corruption legal system establishes anti-cross-border corruption working mechanisms, legal compliance for fugitive recovery and international cooperation, strengthens the prevention, punishment and countermeasures of cross-border corruption, and fills the gap in special anti-cross-border corruption legislation. It marks that China's anti-corruption foreign-related legal construction has moved from practical exploration to rule of law. It is a milestone in promoting the modernization of China's anti-corruption governance system and governance capabilities, and has contributed Chinese wisdom to the global anti-cross-border corruption cause.
Zhen Zhanmin, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, believes that the enactment of this law will help strengthen China's clear stance on anti-corruption, help the healthy and orderly development of cross-border enterprises, help create a market-oriented, legal and international first-class business environment, help enrich the legal "toolbox" for pursuing fugitives and recovering stolen goods and handling foreign-related corruption cases, and effectively improve the ability to fight cross-border corruption.
The full text of the "Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Several Major Issues Concerning Persistently Promoting Comprehensive and Strict Governance of the Party" (referred to as the "Decision") was released on November 1. It states, "In-depth study and grasp of anti-corruption laws under the conditions of socialist market economy, and improvement of anti-corruption laws and regulations", "Deepen international cooperation in anti-corruption, strengthen pursuit of escapees, prevention of escapes and recovery of stolen goods, and increase the investigation and handling of cross-border corruption cases."
Zhen Zhanmin said that "it can be said that it is just the right time" to formulate and introduce the anti-cross-border corruption law and persistently promote comprehensive and strict party governance.
Wang Zhimin, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, suggested that the legal text be compared with the "Decision", and relevant important formulations and major measures should be absorbed and updated in a timely manner to ensure that the party's will is elevated into national law in a timely manner. Shahrhat Ahan also suggested that the relevant content of the "Decision" on anti-cross-border corruption be added to the law, such as adding "resolutely cracking down on corruption using the Internet, virtual currencies, cross-border funds, blockchain, etc."
During the group deliberation, participants generally believed that the draft was relatively mature overall. Some participants also provided opinions and suggestions for further modifications and improvements.
Hu Xiaoli, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said that the draft determines the overall institutional framework for anti-cross-border corruption, but in actual law enforcement there are still some aspects that require further refinement of operating procedures, such as specific procedures for foreign-related cooperation, compliance management, cross-border recovery of stolen goods, etc., so that the work can be carried out in a standardized and orderly manner. (over)
