Speaking in Hong Kong at the first international ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption of Hong Kong) symposium, Xu Jinhui, deputy director general of the General Bureau for Anti-corruption, the Supreme People's Procuratorate of the People's Republic of China, said that with the world economy advancing to a higher degree of globalization and integration, "fighting corruption cannot solely rely on the efforts of one nation or country."

In particular, with the modernization of society and the advance of technology, corruption and bribery crimes have become increasingly intellectual and sophisticated, and cross-boundary crimes have become more and more common, Xu said.

Under such circumstances, the anti-corruption called for closer international cooperation to maximize individual countries' endeavor to combat corruption.

With Hong Kong and Macao's reunification with China and China's approaching entry into the World Trade Organization, there are higher demands for Chinese anti-corruption agencies in international and regional cooperation, Xu said.

In response to this trend, Xu said that during the 8th International Meeting of the Asian Foundation for the Prevention of Crimes held in Beijing, Chinese procuratorates signed cooperation agreements or memorandums with their counterparts of 20 nations.

Up to now, there are as many as 47 nations which have signed bilateral cooperation agreements or memorandums with Chinese procuratorates on combating corruption, according to Xu.

Xu expressed the hope that Chinese procuratorates would establish relations with more anti-corruption agencies all over the world on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, with a view to having more exchange and cooperation in the anti-corruption area.

(Xinhua11/15/2000)