Breakthrough agreement signals harder stance

The bilateral treaty signed by China and Canada to facilitate the recovery of assets salted away overseas by corrupt officials or businesspeople is the first of its kind between the People's Republic and a Western country, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The agreement provides a new legal basis for the return of assets illegally sent to either country and opens a new channel for China's cooperation with other nations," said Sun Ang, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to Sun, if a court rules that illegally transferred funds or assets belong to a specific person or enterprise within their own country, the recipient country will return them in accordance with the law.