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Unite against corruption
2006-04-24
China Daily
It is good news that representatives from around the world have agreed to establish an international federation of anti-corruption bureau.
It is also of special significance to China because the first session and congress of the bureau, formed by more than 20 countries and international organizations under the United Nations initiative, will be held in Beijing this October.
The fact that China's Supreme People's Procuratorate was one of the initiators and participated throughout the launching of this world organization suggests that the Chinese Government attaches importance to international co-operation in its endeavour against corruption.
The involvement of more than 20 countries, relevant international organizations and the United Nations sends a message that corruption has become a common scourge plaguing the economy and political fabrics of many countries.
Efforts from a single country to bring corrupt officials to justice and attempt to deter potential bribe-takers and embezzlers have proved far from enough.
This can be seen as many officials are able to flee overseas with the proceeds of their corruption, of which money-laundering has been rampant.
The International Convention against Corruption took effect this past December and the China's top legislative body, the National People's Congress, ratified it two months earlier in October.
The establishment of this federation will add to the significance of the convention, making it possible or more convenient for co-ordinated efforts between prosecution bureaus of the member countries.
From this perspective, the new federation will hopefully facilitate the fight against corruption by providing a platform where prosecutors from different countries may swap data, experiences and co-operate in cracking down on particular cases that require effort from other countries.
In the transition from a planned economy to a market one, China has experienced something that it has never met before. Along with rapid economic growth come many corruption cases involving officials at different levels. The country is in urgent need of a mechanism to prevent corruption and effectively track down and seize those bribe-takers and embezzlers.
This federation has provided the country with an opportunity to learn from such developed nations as the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany in building such a mechanism with Chinese characteristics.
We hope this federation will allow prosecutors from member countries to compare notes and learn from each other or formulate training programmes to promote the fight against corruption.
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