China mulls draft law against cross-border corruption

Chinese lawmakers began reviewing a draft law on combating cross-border corruption on Tuesday.

The draft was submitted for its first reading to the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature.

Structured into six chapters and 47 articles, the draft sets out the principles, scope and key positions underpinning China's efforts to combat cross-border corruption.

It also defines relevant operational mechanisms and institutional responsibilities and seeks to strengthen case handling and international cooperation.

The draft further clarifies enterprises' obligations regarding integrity and compliance and specifies legal liabilities for violations.

The draft law is a practical step to regulate the development of cross-border businesses and help build a world-class business environment aligned with market principles, the rule of law and international standards.

It is also expected to expand the legal tools available to combat cross-border corruption and help address challenges in detecting corruption, collecting evidence, recovering illicit assets and securing convictions.