China calls for int'l co-op in combating corruption

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-11-10 07:03

DOHA: A Chinese official on Monday called on state parties of a UN anti-corruption treaty to strengthen cooperation in fighting corruption amid the ongoing global financial crisis.

"During the fight against financial crisis, some serious corrupt cases have surfaced, posing a great challenge to the global fight against corruption," Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Song Tao said.

State parties should bring into full play the role of the UN anti-corruption convention, enhance cooperation and coordination, Song said while addressing the third session of the Conference of the State Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

He also urged measures to deny any opportunity for corruption and money laundering, resolutely combat any corrupt person to make profit from loopholes in the financial regulations, to create a clean, transparent and just environment for countries to weather the economic woe and revitalize the economy.

More than 1,000 high-ranking officials and representatives from non-governmental organizations met here for their biennial meeting on anti-corruption.

Technical assistance on anti-corruption and review of the implementation of the UN Convention would be discussed during the five-day event.

Delegates would also try to hammer out means to promote the return of stolen public funds through the establishment of an inter-governmental working group on asset recovery.

Adopted by the UN General Assembly on October 31, 2003 and entered into force on December 14, 2005, the UN Convention against Corruption is the first legally binding international anti-corruption instrument.