Senior Chinese prosecutors are calling for better links between legal organs in China and countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to crack down on cross-border crime.

"The Chinese prosecutors will work with their counterparts in ASEAN countries . . . to establish an effective law enforcement network to fight transnational organized crime," said Jia Chunwang, procurator-general of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, during the China-ASEAN Prosecutors-General Conference. The meeting opened Thursday in Kunming, the capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Jia stressed the importance of sharing law enforcement information and setting up mutual training and exchanges to contribute to a safer environment in the region.

While regular meetings of prosecutors-general provide venues for discussion, direct cooperation between procuratorates in the border regions will smooth the channels for contact, said Deputy Procurator-General Zhang Geng.

In addition, China and the ASEAN members should assist each other in such areas as investigation and evidence collection, arrest and extradition of criminals, and pursuit and return of funds and property, he said.

Zhang proposed that a network for information collection, access, exchange and transmission be set up for safe and convenient data sharing.

Zhang's proposals were well received by participants, who said the need for enhanced cooperation that goes beyond the existing bilateral framework and United Nations conventions.

Thai Attorney-General Rawat Chamchalerm said a regional legal framework, such as a uniform mutual legal assistance treaty, could be helpful.

The idea is not new. Attorneys-general of ASEAN countries discussed the draft of a treaty on multilateral mutual legal assistance and extradition in May.

Malaysian Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail suggested that the treaty might be extended to include non-ASEAN members in the region, such as China.

In November 2002, China and ASEAN signed a joint declaration on tackling non-traditional security issues, in which drug-trafficking, human smuggling, piracy at sea, terrorism, weapons smuggling, money laundering, international economic crime and Internet crime were set as priority targets.

A memorandum of understanding signed in January this year gave new momentum to the partnership.

Despite the progress, Zhang said there remains much to be improved.

He cited inadequate information sharing and a lack of operating codes in investigation and evidence collection, extradition of escaped criminals, and seizure and return of the illegal gains.

Apart from transnational crime, the region is also faced with the task of curbing terrorism, separatism and extremism. The deadly explosions in Bali, Indonesia, in 2002 demonstrated the reality of the threat.

The pressure may intensify as the 2010 deadline approaches for China and ASEAN to set up a free trade zone. Some observers worry that the increasing business transactions and more convenient flow of goods may also bring an upsurge in transnational crime.

In a letter to the conference, President Hu Jintao highlighted joint efforts in curbing transnational organized crimes as "a common task" of the countries within the region.

"China stands ready to work with ASEAN countries to . . . combat cross-border crime and build an enduring and stable regional security environment," said Luo Gan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

(China Daily July 9, 2004)