Chinese State Councilor Zhou Yongkang said Thursday that China hopes the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) will continue its efforts to help China retrieve criminals who have fled to other countries.

Zhou said this in a meeting with INTERPOL Secretary-General Ronald K. Noble, who is currently visiting China at the invitation of the Chinese Ministry of Public Security.

He said the Chinese government attaches great importance to therole that INTERPOL has been playing in cracking down on international criminal activities.

The Chinese police are willing to improve exchanges and communication with the INTERPOL, and make their unremitting efforts to create safe social environment, said Zhou, also minister of the Chinese Ministry of Public Security.

China joined the INTERPOL in September 1984. Nobel said China is an important member of the INTERPOL and it has played a positive role in the past 20 years, adding that it is his hope thetwo sides will further strengthen cooperation in a more practical way.

The INTERPOL was Established in 1923. By October 2002, it had 181 member states.

Source: Xinhua