CRI听力:U.S. Urged to Facilitate Beijing's Anti-Graft Efforts

In recent years, a number of corruption suspects, officials and businessmen, have fled overseas to avoid prosecution in China.

Western developed countries, especially the US, Canada, and Australia are the main destinations for these fugitives.

This has prompted the Chinese government to enhance cooperation with foreign governments, to return those overseas fugitives.

Xu Hong, director general of the Foreign Ministry's Department of Treaty and Law, says China has signed bilateral extradition treaties with 39 countries, including France, Spain, Italy, and Portugal.

However, Xu says the U.S. has not signed any such treaties with China.

"We have brought it up with the U.S. that we should consider signing an extradition treaty between the U.S. and China, in terms of growing closer relations of communication and cooperation. But it seems that the U.S. side is not yet ready."

The official adds that with Washington not being 'ready', the only option China faces is to think of alternative methods.　

"One way is to repatriate the relevant suspects through mechanisms of illegal immigration, the other way is to prosecute them in the United States, so the suspects can be tried under U.S. law."

Earlier this month, China and 20 other Asia-Pacific countries and regions, which include the U.S., Canada, and Australia, adopted a joint declaration on fighting corruption at the APEC meeting held in Beijing.

The declaration pledged to eliminate corruption through extradition and judicial assistance.

They also agreed to adopt more flexible measures to recover the proceeds of corruption within the law of the APEC economies.

Xu Hong is urging greater effort from the U.S. government to make greater efforts together with the Chinese government to combat cross-border corruption.

"China calls on countries around the world, especially the United States, Canada and Australia, which are the main destinations for corrupt Chinese officials, to work with China to crack down on cross-border corruption and crimes so as to eliminate 'safe havens' for the fugitives."

China launched its Fox Hunt 2014 operation in July, targeting suspected corrupt officials and suspects in economic crimes who fled the country.

So far, 288 suspects have been captured, including 21 at large for more than a decade.

The efforts to target Chinese fugitives overseas are seen as part of a high-profile anti-graft campaign launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping since he came to power two years ago.

For CRI, I'm Yin Xiuqi.