China returns record number of fugitives, stolen assets

China brought back 7,831 fugitives from more than 120 countries and regions from 2014 to June this year, with 19.654 billion yuan ($2.82 billion) of illegal gains recovered, according to a work report from the National Supervisory Commission, the nation's top anti-graft watchdog.

Among them, 2,075 were Party members and State workers and 60 were on the Interpol Red Notice list of the 100 fugitives most wanted by China, the report said.

The report was reviewed on Monday during a session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, China's top legislature, for the first time since the establishment of the commission in 2018.

After the commission's establishment, both the number of corruption and bribery suspects who fled the country and the amount of stolen money recovered greatly increased year-on-year, the report said.

Since the launch of the commission in 2018, 3,848 fugitives and 9.911 billion yuan in illegal gains were recovered. Both accounted for about 50 percent of the fugitives and money recovered since 2014.

Yang Xiaodu, director of the commission, said: "The institutional advantages have been further transformed into governance effectiveness in the field of fugitive repatriation and asset recovery."

The number of Party members and State workers who fled abroad each year has dropped significantly, from 101 in 2014 to four last year, data showed.

"The trend of fleeing abroad by corrupt suspects has been effectively curbed," Yang said.

Since 2014, China has signed 43 treaties on extradition, judicial assistance and asset return with 28 countries. The commission has signed 11 cooperation agreements with 10 national anti-corruption agencies and international organizations, according to the report.

"An anti-corruption law enforcement cooperation network covering all continents and key countries has preliminarily formed," Yang said.