Top legislator Wu Bangguo Monday pledged to work more closely with other countries to ensure international criminal justice and better protect human rights.

"Some newly emerged crimes, especially transnational crimes and internationally organized crimes have become a public nuisance for the whole world," said Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress, China's top legislative body.

Wu said China had consistently fulfilled its duties in fighting these crimes and would continue to do so.

He was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 17th International Congress of Penal Law which was held yesterday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

It is the first time that the International Association of Penal Law has held its congress in an Asian country in its more than 100 years of existence.

Cherif Bassiouni, president of the International Association of Penal Law, said while great progress has been achieved in the development of international criminal justice, more international co-operation is required so that justice and the protection of human rights can be effectively upheld.

Han Zhubin, president of the China Law Society, said it is an inevitable that the international community conducts extensive exchanges and co-operation to handle crises and challenges.

Nearly 1,000 representatives from 68 countries and regions will focus their discussions on how to meet the challenges of and find solutions to criminal offences in an era of globalization during the week-long conference.

They will touch upon topics such as corruption and related crimes in international economic activities, regional and national patterns in the international trafficking of women and children, computer crimes, cyber-terrorism, child pornography and financial crimes.

The International Association of Penal Law is a non-governmental organization with consultative status at the United Nations and the Council of Europe. It is built on the principles established by the United National Chart and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

(China Daily September 14, 2004)