[File photo]

China’s latest cooperation with other G20 countries on overseas asset recovery and the extradition of corrupt officials will help to overcome political and legal barriers, according to experts. The cooperation will also promote China's participation in the establishment of international anti-graft institutions, the experts said.

On Sept. 5, leaders from G20 countries agreed to advance an anti-graft campaign, the details of which included the establishment of a research center on fugitive repatriation and asset recovery in China, Xinhua reported.

“China has been fighting unswervingly against corruption, and the country's achievements in anti-graft causes have been widely recognized by the international community. Thus, important anti-graft breakthroughs were made this year during the G20 summit,” said Song Wei, deputy director of the Research Center for Government Integrity at the University of Science and Technology in Beijing. Song gave an interview with Legal Daily on Sept. 12.

With corruption already considerably reduced at home, China has lately been intensifying its international efforts in apprehending corrupt officials overseas. According to data released on Sept. 6 by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, 1,915 fugitives have been brought back from around 70 countries and regions since the launch of operation “Sky Net” in 2014, with 7.5 billion yuan ($1.1 billion) recovered.

“Most corrupt officials have chosen G20 countries as their destinations. Further cooperation with these countries will be beneficial for the location and retrieval of suspects overseas,” said Zhuang Deshui, a professor with Peking University, in an interview with Legal Daily.

Despite China's anti-graft achievements, experts have said that more effort should be made to strengthen the country’s legal system, and to improve understanding of international laws and treaties.

“Most importantly, China should strengthen its legal system, including its trial by default system, realizing the integration of Chinese and international laws,” Zhuang added.