CGTN: 

Would you please introduce the MOJ's work regarding international exchange and cooperation, as well as its involvement in shaping international rules? Thank you.

Du Yaling:

Thank you for your question. As is widely recognized, law-based governance is an important achievement of human political civilization and serves as the shared foundation for international communication and cooperation. Fulfilling its duties in the administration of justice, the MOJ has been actively engaged in international exchange and cooperation on the rule of law, as well as the formulation of international rules. Here are our main work carried out this year:

First, we have promoted the establishment of the mechanism of the Meeting of the SCO Ministers of Justice. As Ms. He just introduced, the ministry successfully hosted the 10th Meeting of the SCO Ministers of Justice in September. The justice ministers signed a joint statement during the meeting, agreeing to enhance cooperation in legal services and promote law-based governance among SCO member states. Additionally, the MOJ signed an annual cooperation framework with its counterpart in Russia and a cooperation plan with its counterpart in Kyrgyzstan, injecting strong momentum into regional and foreign-related rule of law.

Second, we have carried out high-level diplomacy regarding the rule of law. We participated in the country's major foreign affairs activities, including the seventh China-Germany inter-governmental consultation, the eighth meeting of the China-Russia law-enforcement and security cooperation mechanism, and the fourth China-Germany high-level security dialogue. We reached consensus on strengthening exchanges and cooperation on the rule of law with foreign guests such as the prosecutor general of Russia, the minister of public security of Vietnam, the minister of justice and internal affairs of Mongolia, and the director-general of the United Nations Office at Vienna and executive director of the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime. We conducted exchanges with Germany, France, Finland, and Singapore under existing bilateral mechanisms, and implemented the outcomes of the bilateral meetings between Chinese and Belarusian leaders during the SCO Samarkand Summit, continuously expanding our network of friends in the realm of law-based governance.

Third, we have actively participated in cooperation on multilateral platforms, including at the U.N. The MOJ holds a leading position as the national department responsible for crime prevention and criminal justice within the U.N. framework. We have proactively organized and taken part in relevant meetings of the U.N. Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice while strengthening collaborations with international organizations like the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime. By doing so, we have been actively engaged in international governance and rulemaking.

Fourth, we have carried out international judicial assistance in an orderly manner. International judicial assistance is an important component of global governance. The MOJ is committed to being in contact with overseas parties, and manages judicial assistance and prisoner transfer cases in compliance with the law and relevant agreements. This year, we processed 206 requests for criminal judicial assistance and more than 2,200 requests for civil and commercial judicial assistance. In addition, we have approved the transfer of convicted individuals to 32 countries, continuously enhancing mutual trust and cooperation in judicial matters and improving the legal basis for international collaboration.

Fifth, we have effectively advanced the legal review of treaties. Since the 20th CPC National Congress, we have completed legal reviews of 16 treaties, including the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, the Reference Paper on Services Domestic Regulation, the Protocol on Iran's SCO Membership, and the U.N. Protocol Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition. We have requested the State Council to promulgate the Measures for the Administration of Conclusion of Treaties, enhancing the level of law-based governance and standardization in international treaty conclusion work. We have actively participated in major treaty negotiations such as the WTO Investment Facilitation Agreement and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement. Additionally, we have conducted research on joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, thereby providing legal assurance for China's participation in and leadership of international rulemaking. Thank you.