BEIJING -- China's top legislature began deliberating a draft law on combating cross-border corruption, which includes a provision on promoting the building of a fair and equitable global anti-corruption governance system.
The draft was submitted for its second reading at a session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, which runs through Friday.
The draft further elaborates on the legislative purpose and enriches the principles guiding efforts to combat cross-border corruption.
It also stipulates that such efforts must be conducted in strict accordance with the Constitution and laws, follow statutory procedures, and respect and protect human rights.
The draft law was first submitted for deliberation in late August. The formulation of the law is an important step by China to put in place a systematic and comprehensive foreign-related legal framework for anti-corruption, according to the top legislature.
Structured into six chapters and 47 articles, the draft sets out the principles, scope and key positions underpinning China's efforts to combat cross-border corruption.
The revised draft also sets out provisions on the use of information technology by authorities in combating cross-border corruption.
It requires relevant authorities and their staff to keep confidential any state secrets, work-related confidential information, trade secrets, personal privacy and personal information obtained during supervision and investigations.
It also requires Chinese companies operating across borders to set up integrity and compliance departments or appoint dedicated staff, based on their size, business scope and risk prevention and control.
The draft states that efforts to combat cross-border corruption should leave no area beyond oversight, leave no ground unturned and show zero tolerance for corruption.
They should also address both the symptoms and root causes of corruption through a systematic approach, while actively participating in global anti-corruption governance.
China has stepped up international cooperation in combating corruption in recent years. Since the launch of Operation Sky Net in 2015, China has brought back 14,048 fugitives from more than 120 countries and regions and recovered 66.62 billion yuan (about $9.92 billion) in illicit assets by the end of 2024, according to official data.
In 2025, China deepened international anti-corruption cooperation and investigated 505 cross-border corruption cases. A total of 963 fugitives were repatriated to the country in 2025.
The draft law also helps to regulate the development of cross-border businesses and build a world-class business environment aligned with market principles, the rule of law and international standards.
China is a major trading partner for more than 160 countries and regions, and its total trade in goods has ranked first in the world for eight consecutive years. By the end of 2025, Chinese investors had established more than 50,000 overseas enterprises across 190 countries and regions.
