The Indonesian House of Representatives agreed Tuesday to enact the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters between Indonesia and China into a law.

All ten factions in the House expressed their support for the treaty during the House plenary session in Jakarta.

"Both countries need specific regulations to maintain cooperation in criminal matters," said legislator Azlaini Agus from the National mandate Party.

The agreement allows law enforcers in Indonesia and China to share documents and exchange evidence to help investigation and to transfer assets of convicted criminals.

"We now have legal basis to combat transnational crimes from the investigation stage to trial," Minister of Justice and Human Rights Affairs Hamid Awaluddin told the lawmakers.

(Xinhua News Agency March 21, 2006)