The mainland's Taiwan Affairs Office says both sides of the Taiwan Strait are promising to work together to combat telecom fraud.

The suggestion comes amid the dispute over jurisdiction, after Kenyan authorities deported 77 alleged telecom fraud suspects, including 45 from Taiwan, to the mainland earlier this month.

An Fengshan is spokesperson for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office.

"Both sides say that, based on an agreement toward a joint crackdown on crime, they will further discuss new ways to deepen cooperation and target cross-border telecom fraud. Both sides have agreed they'll provide each other with information about suspects, as well as help arrest criminals at large, confiscate illicit money and maintain communication during any new investigations."

The agreements follow a trip to Beijing last week by a delegation from Taiwan to discuss the status of the suspects from Taiwan, as well as plans for further cooperation against telecom fraud.

In the end, it has been decided all 77 suspects, including the ones from Taiwan, will be tried on the mainland.

An says the investigation and subsequent trials will be fair.

"As part of their trip, the Taiwan delegation visited the detention facility in Beijing's Haidian District to review the investigation and the living conditions of the suspects. Mainland officials have assured the group from Taiwan that all the suspects will be treated fairly, and their rights and interests under the law will be protected. They will also help arrange things like family visits, under the laws on the mainland."

The group arrested in Kenya are thought to be one of a number of telecom fraud operations operating in other countries, but targeting victims on the mainland.

The scam usually involves the suspects posing as police officers, and convincing their victims their bank accounts are in danger.

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