Photo: Courtesy of the Department of Treaty and Law of the Chinese Foreign Ministry

Facing severe challenges that some countries are drawing ideological lines in the field of extradition, China will strengthen its capacity building and resolutely fight back against Western smears, the Department of Treaty and Law of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

The department proposed at a forum jointly organized by the Beijing Normal University Law School to commemorate the 30th anniversary of China's conclusion of the first extradition treaty.

The "Treaty between the Kingdom of Thailand and the People's Republic of China on Extradition" was officially signed by the foreign ministers of both countries on August 26, 1993.

It is the first bilateral extradition treaty concluded by China with a foreign country in the history of the People's Republic of China, said Huang Feng, a professor at Beijing Normal University Law School.

The concept of "political offence" was used for the first time in this treaty when introducing and expressing the principle of exception for political crimes, Huang added.

Since the signing of this treaty, China's cooperation with other countries in the field of extradition has achieved notable results, which in a few decades has achieved what Western countries have done for hundreds of years.

China's extradition cooperation, especially in the field of anti-corruption, has made outstanding achievements, said Ma Xinmin, director-general of the Department of Treaty and Law of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Anti-corruption fugitive repatriation and asset recovery is an important task carried out by various departments under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. After 30 years of development, extradition has become an important component of anti-corruption fugitive repatriation and asset recovery, Ma added.

However, Ma also pointed out the challenges facing China's current extradition practice.

The US is drawing ideological lines and trying to rally its allies to demand them to refrain from engaging in relevant cooperation with China, Ma said.

The Western countries have very little knowledge of China's legal system and carry strong prejudices against China that hinder extradition cooperation.

In response, Ma stated that China will continue to strengthen its capacity building and resolutely fight back against the smears of the US-led West on China's judicial system and safeguard its dignity.

Other participating experts and scholars discussed and exchanged views on how to solve difficulties facing China's extradition work and further enhance the quality and effectiveness of international law enforcement and judicial cooperation.

Global Times