"Canada and China are ready to sign an a
greement to return illegal assets seized from fugitives of economic crime, including corrupt officials, according to a senior Canadian diplomat.
Canada's Ambassador to China Guy Saint-Jacques told China Daily that the countries have made "good progress this year" in the fight against
corruption.
The agreement "is ready to be signed on the return of property related to people who would have fled to Canada and would have been involved in corrupt activities," the ambassador said.
Once the agreement is signed, "it will serve as a model for other countries. I think on that front we should have good progress," he said.
Corrupt Chinese officials and smugglers seeking shelter in Canada have led to long-term controversy.
In mid November, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member economies decided to set up a cross-border law enforcement network to strengthen transnational anti-corruption cooperation in the region.
Beijing and Ottawa have "good collaboration" and have returned more than 1,200 people in the past three years, including more than 60 who were sought in China for criminal reasons, according to the ambassador.
Beijing has made remarkable progress in repatriating fugitive officials and other economic criminals from destinations worldwide.
At least 428 Chinese suspects had been captured abroad by the end of October under Beijing's Fox Hunt 2014 operation."
