Deep concern丨Anti-corruption international cooperation has reached a new level
Wang Zhuo, website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and State Supervision Commission
From June 23 to 24, the 14th BRICS Summit was held by video.
President Xi Jinping presided over the meeting and delivered an important speech.
The meeting adopted and issued the "Beijing Declaration of the 14th BRICS Leaders' Meeting".
Important anti-corruption achievements such as the BRICS Safe Harbor Initiative Against Corruption were incorporated into the declaration.
This year is the second time that China has held the rotating presidency of the BRICS cooperation mechanism after 2017.
The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the State Supervision Commission once again assumed the chairmanship of the BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group.
The leaders of the BRICS countries reached a new important consensus on strengthening international anti-corruption cooperation, which fully reflects the series of results reached by China as the chairman of the working group.
In order to gain an in-depth understanding of these achievements, the reporter conducted an exclusive interview with the chairman of the 2022 BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group and the relevant responsible comrades of the International Cooperation Bureau of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the State Supervision Commission.
Reporter: Could you please brief us on the basic situation of the BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group?
Chairman of the Working Group:
In 2013, anti-corruption cooperation was included in the outcome document of the Fifth BRICS Leaders' Meeting, becoming one of the new areas of cooperation discussed by the BRICS countries.
In 2015, the 7th BRICS Leaders Meeting was held in Ufa, Russia, where the Ufa Declaration was adopted, and it was unanimously agreed to formally establish the BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group.
In June 2016, the BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group held its first meeting.
The Anti-Corruption Working Group is one of the professional working groups under the BRICS Cooperation Mechanism. It holds 2 to 3 working group meetings every year.
The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the State Supervision Commission, on behalf of China, participated in the BRICS anti-corruption cooperation, and actively promoted the BRICS countries to cooperate in areas such as rejecting a safe haven for corruption, anti-corruption, pursuit of fugitives and asset recovery.
Reporter: As the chairman of the BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group, how do you think about the theme, agenda and outcome design of this year’s BRICS anti-corruption cooperation?
Chairman of the Working Group:
The BRICS countries are at similar stages of development, facing the important task of tackling corruption and developing the economy. They have the same concerns in the field of anti-corruption pragmatic cooperation. Under the framework of the Anti-Corruption Working Group, all parties are committed to discussing how to improve anti-corruption governance. Ability and level, guarantee and promote social and economic development, how to strengthen international judicial and law enforcement cooperation, and effectively combat transnational (border) corruption crimes.
When conducting anti-corruption cooperation with the international community, including the BRICS, China has always adhered to fairness and justice, punishing evil and promoting good, respecting differences, equality and mutual learning, win-win cooperation, extensive consultation and joint construction, and keeping promises, Action takes precedence.
The theme, agenda and outcomes of this year's Anti-Corruption Working Group have fully taken into account the concerns of the BRICS countries, reflecting the spirit of China's "Four Propositions" mentioned above.
The first is to focus on the theme of common development, hold a seminar on “Anti-corruption to Promote Economic Development”, and promote the BRICS countries to discuss how to maintain social fairness and justice through anti-corruption work, achieve more institutional results and greater governance effects, and ensure and Promote social and economic development.
The second is to highlight the key point of anti-corruption and pragmatic cooperation, and to promote the BRICS countries to further build consensus on how to strengthen international judicial and law enforcement cooperation in anti-corruption. Cooperation in recovering stolen goods and calling on all countries in the world to refuse to become a haven for corruption.
On the basis of the above-mentioned achievements and consensus, we will also hold the first ministerial meeting on anti-corruption in July to build a consensus on anti-corruption among BRICS countries at a higher level, and demonstrate the member countries' cooperation in anti-corruption law enforcement, pursuit of fugitives and asset recovery, and capacity building. common positions and propositions.
Reporter: The 14th BRICS summit reached an important consensus on anti-corruption. What kind of message did it convey? How will the Anti-Corruption Working Group implement the anti-corruption consensus in practice?
Chairman of the Working Group:
The 14th BRICS Leaders' Meeting adopted the Beijing Declaration of the 14th BRICS Leaders' Meeting, and the anti-corruption content was included in the Declaration, marking a series of new BRICS leaders on anti-corruption cooperation. This important consensus conveyed to the international community the clear position and positive signal of the BRICS countries vowing to fight corruption and strengthen practical cooperation in key areas, providing important guidance for the BRICS countries to continue to deepen anti-corruption cooperation in the next step.
The anti-corruption content in the declaration is as follows: We reiterate our commitment to strengthening international anti-corruption cooperation, and are willing to strengthen experience exchanges on anti-corruption, fugitive recovery, mutual provision of legal assistance in civil and administrative matters, and asset return on the basis of respecting the legal systems of various countries. and pragmatic cooperation.
We welcome the adoption of the BRICS Safe Harbor Initiative against Corruption, which will further strengthen anti-corruption capacity building through education and training programs, and strengthen anti-corruption exchanges and cooperation under the multilateral framework.
We welcome the convening of the first BRICS Ministerial Meeting on Anti-Corruption.
In order to implement the consensus reached at the leaders' meeting, in the near future, the first priority is to prepare for the first BRICS ministerial meeting on anti-corruption. At present, all parties are conducting intensive communication on the design of the agenda and outcome documents of the meeting.
In the long run, the BRICS countries will strengthen the exchange of experience, information sharing and case cooperation in anti-corruption, fugitive recovery and asset recovery, take practical actions to ensure the implementation of the BRICS Safe Harbor Initiative for Rejecting Corruption, cooperate in anti-corruption education and training programs, and strengthen anti-corruption education and training programs. Corruption capacity building, work together to combat corruption, and jointly safeguard fairness and justice.
Reporter: What is the purpose of the first BRICS Ministerial Meeting on Anti-Corruption? What's on the agenda? What impact will it have on BRICS anti-corruption cooperation?
Chairman of the Working Group:
At present, with the combined effects of a century of changes and the epidemic of the century, the factors of instability, uncertainty and insecurity in the international situation have become increasingly prominent. The threat of corruption to economic and social development is more severe than ever, and international cooperation in anti-corruption is facing new problems and challenges. .
During this critical period, China proposed to hold the first BRICS ministerial meeting on anti-corruption, aiming to implement the anti-corruption consensus reached at the 14th BRICS leaders' meeting and contribute to global anti-corruption governance.
The theme of this ministerial meeting is "Strengthening Cooperation and Joining Hands to Fight Corruption". Minister-level officials from anti-corruption agencies of various countries will review the history of BRICS countries' anti-corruption cooperation and discuss how BRICS countries are fighting against the illegal flow of corrupt assets, anti-corruption law enforcement and pursuit of corruption. Cooperation in key areas such as fugitives and asset recovery, and anti-corruption education and training continued to deepen cooperation, demonstrating to the people of the BRICS countries and the international community the firm determination to join hands in combating corruption.
At the same time, UNODC and other international organizations will also provide advice and suggestions for BRICS countries' anti-corruption cooperation, jointly promote the improvement of global anti-corruption governance, help achieve the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, and contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind and a global development community. contribute.
Reporter: What is the main content of the BRICS Initiative to Reject the Safe Harbor of Corruption? How is it related to the international anti-corruption documents that China has participated in and promoted in recent years?
Working Group Chairman:
Since 2014, China has successively promoted the formation of a series of international anti-corruption documents such as the Beijing Declaration on Anti-Corruption, the G20 Advanced Principles for Anti-Corruption, Pursuit of Fugitives and Assets, and the Beijing Initiative on the Incorruptible Silk Road. The proposals for cooperation in anti-corruption, fugitive recovery, and asset recovery and cross-border corruption governance have won positive response and support from the international community.
The BRICS Safe Harbor Initiative for Rejecting Corruption is in line with the above-mentioned propositions and initiatives, and continues the spirit of BRICS countries’ anti-corruption pragmatic cooperation. Starting from the most important concerns of the BRICS countries and the vast number of developing countries in the field of international anti-corruption, it proposes practical and feasible solutions. Program.
Under the advocacy of the Chinese President and through the joint efforts of all countries, the BRICS countries unanimously adopted the "BRICS Rejection of Corruption Safe Harbor Initiative". Centering on the theme of "Rejection of Corruption Safe Harbor", the BRICS countries put forward four aspects including determination, action, strategy and prospect. 10 initiatives.
The "Initiative" first reviewed the cooperation carried out by the BRICS countries in rejecting corruption safe havens, advocating that all countries uphold the "zero tolerance" attitude of corruption, persevere in combating corruption, strengthen international cooperation, bring corrupt personnel to justice, and recover stolen assets ; Advocate that all countries focus on the application and improvement of relevant domestic laws, regulations and policies, focus on the recovery of corrupt assets, and strive to eliminate the regulatory loopholes in the transfer of corrupt personnel and assets, strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation and improve cooperation efficiency; Corruption strategic deployment, actively use emerging technologies to promote related work, and strengthen anti-corruption capacity building through education and training; advocate countries to abide by their commitments and give priority to actions in rejecting corruption safe havens, and solve problems encountered in anti-corruption international judicial and law enforcement cooperation in a win-win manner. issues, and strengthen pragmatic cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual learning.
The adoption of the BRICS Initiative on Rejecting the Safe Harbor for Corruption is of great significance to upholding genuine multilateralism and advancing international cooperation against corruption.
On the one hand, it will provide important reference guidelines for the vast number of developing countries, effectively promote international anti-corruption pragmatic cooperation, and eliminate corruption safe havens; The behavior of the small circle is vigorously corrected.
Reporter: It is reported that the BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group held a seminar on "Anti-corruption to Promote Economic Development" on May 26. What consensus did all parties reach at the meeting?
Chairman of the working group:
The seminar was hosted by the National Supervisory Commission of China, and more than 60 representatives from the BRICS governments, enterprises, academia and relevant international organizations participated online.
Participants discussed issues such as anti-corruption in the public sector to ensure economic development, clean operation of enterprises to help economic development, and construction of a clean culture to create a favorable environment for economic development.
All parties agreed that fighting corruption upholds fairness and justice and is conducive to sustainable and healthy economic development.
The BRICS countries will further carry out anti-corruption cooperation, strengthen mutual learning in anti-corruption and economic development, deepen anti-corruption international judicial and law enforcement cooperation, work together to combat cross-border corruption crimes, discuss, build and share a clean business environment, and jointly maintain BRICS development interests.
The series of consensus reached at the meeting showed that the BRICS countries have common needs in anti-corruption and economic development, and deepening the exchange of experience and pragmatic cooperation in related fields will be one of the priorities in the next step, which will effectively promote the economic interconnection and common development of the BRICS countries. .
Reporter: As the chairman of the BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group this year, what are your feelings and experiences?
Chairman of the Working Group:
This year, China has once again taken over the baton of the Chairman of the Working Group after 2017.
With the joint efforts of all parties, BRICS anti-corruption cooperation has made new progress and reached new heights.
As the chairman of this year's working group, my feelings are mainly three points.
First, the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee on anti-corruption work and the historic and pioneering achievements in comprehensively and strictly governing the party in the new era have provided fundamental support for us to do the work of chairman of the working group well.
Opposing corruption and building clean politics is a clear political position that the Communist Party of China has always adhered to.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, especially since the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has incorporated comprehensive and strict governance of the Party into its strategic layout, punished corruption with a zero-tolerance attitude, and unswervingly "fighting tigers", "swatting flies", "Fox Hunting" has been promoted as a whole, and the anti-corruption struggle has won an overwhelming victory and has been consolidated in an all-round way. It has embarked on a path of anti-corruption relying on the advantages of the system and the rule of law, and has written a new history in the fight against corruption. This makes us confident and confident in doing the work of the working group chairman well.
This year's presidency has also enhanced the understanding and support of BRICS countries, relevant international organizations and the international community for China's anti-corruption concepts and propositions.
The second is the "China Practice" and "China Plan" of international anti-corruption cooperation, which provides a strong guarantee for us to do well as the chairman of the working group.
China has always been an active participant and contributor to global anti-corruption governance, and an advocate and activist for the common will of developing countries for anti-corruption cooperation.
China has fully fulfilled its obligations under the United Nations Convention against Corruption, actively participated in multilateral anti-corruption cooperation including the BRICS Cooperation Mechanism, strengthened the international pursuit of fugitives and recovered assets, advanced cross-border corruption governance, and established good cooperation with many countries and international organizations. relation.
Through the work of this year's chairman, China's concept of rejecting a safe haven for corruption has become a BRICS consensus. It has put forward a Chinese plan and contributed Chinese wisdom to the international community to further strengthen anti-corruption pragmatic cooperation. China's anti-corruption international voice and influence have been further enhanced. promote.
Third, the BRICS anti-corruption cooperation has played a good demonstration effect, showing the international community broad prospects for anti-corruption international cooperation.
In the context of globalization, corruption crimes are increasingly showing a cross-border trend, and the effective fight against cross-border corruption is inseparable from the cooperation of all countries.
In recent years, developing countries including the BRICS countries have actively participated in international anti-corruption governance, insisted on prioritizing actions and carried out practical cooperation, and achieved a series of results.
Through the presidency this year, we have achieved a number of anti-corruption achievements with all parties. We will earnestly implement the anti-corruption consensus reached at the leaders' meeting, make every effort to hold the first BRICS ministerial meeting on anti-corruption, and promote the BRICS anti-corruption. Cooperation has developed in depth and made BRICS contributions to global multilateralism cooperation and anti-corruption governance.