Chinese top legislator calls for int'l efforts to curb organized crime

Chinese top legislator said Monday in Beijing that various countries in the world need to make concerted efforts to fight against trans-boundary or international organized crime, which becomes a common tumor to the international community.

An international cooperation mechanism would be required to prevent and punish such crime, Wu Bangguo, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said at the inaugural ceremony to the 17th International Congress of Penal Law.

While the world is experiencing complicated and deep changes, Wu said, peace and development are still the mainstream of human society.

However, he said, regional conflicts and traditional or nontraditional security problems make the world less safe.

Various countries should address those threats to safety, including criminal crime, he said.

China always attaches great importance to preventing and punishing criminal crimes, in order to safeguard human rights and national security, he said.

A responsible member of the international community, Wu said, China always implements its promise, together with other countries, to crack down on trans-boundary or international organized crime.

On the basis of equality and mutual benefit, Wu said, China is willing to establish an exchange mechanism with other countries in the field, a high-profile dialogue mechanism between various countries, and a cooperative mechanism in criminal law enforcement.

After talking about the achievements made by the Chinese in the past two and a half decades, Wu said, China will continue speeding up legislation and safeguarding legal justice.

Han Zhubin, president of the China Law Society, said he hopes the academic exchange between nearly 1,000 participants to the congress would enhance mutual understanding and friendship.

President of the International Association of Criminal Law Cherif Bassiouni, and Director of the United Nations Center for International Crime Prevention Eduardo Vetere also delivered speeches at the inaugural ceremony.

Participants from 68 countries or regions are scheduled to discuss challenges of and solutions to criminal crime in modern times at the seven-day congress.

Established in 1889, the International Association of Criminal Law is prestigious and influential in the field.