China Moves to Draft Law Against Cross-Border Corruption
Dragon Media News Desk
China is moving forward with legislation aimed at strengthening the fight against cross-border corruption, with the country’s top legislature set to deliberate on a draft law addressing corruption involving overseas elements.
A meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, chaired by Zhao Leji, decided on Tuesday to convene the 24th session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee from August 25 to 28.
During the session, lawmakers are expected to review a draft law on combating cross-border corruption submitted by the National Commission of Supervision.
The proposed legislation was included in September 2023 as a first-category legislative project in the legislative plan of the 14th NPC Standing Committee, meaning it was designated for deliberation during the current NPC term.
The NPC Standing Committee’s annual work report released in March also stated that a law on combating cross-border corruption would be formulated as part of efforts to strengthen China’s national anti-corruption legal framework.
The legislation was later listed as a priority for 2026 in the annual legislative agenda released in May.
China has stepped up international cooperation against corruption in recent years, particularly in the repatriation of fugitives, recovery of illicit assets and cross-border enforcement cooperation.
According to a work report from China’s top anti-graft authority, 963 corruption-related fugitives were repatriated to the country in 2025.
The late-August session will also consider draft laws on healthcare security and on farmland protection and quality improvement.
Lawmakers are also expected to review draft revisions to the Agriculture Law, the National Defense Mobilization Law, the Enterprise Bankruptcy Law, the Law on the Regulation of and Supervision over the Banking Industry, and the Water Law.
A draft amendment to the Lawyers Law will also be considered.
In addition, the State Council has submitted proposals for deliberation on a draft revision to the Road Traffic Safety Law and on approval of an extradition treaty between China and Hungary.
The planned cross-border corruption law is part of China’s broader effort to strengthen the legal foundations of its anti-corruption campaign and make international cooperation on investigations, fugitive repatriation and asset recovery more systematic.
