China will continue to improve its drug control laws and regulations to fight narcotics in coming years, Ambassador of the Permanent Mission of China to Vienna, Zhang Yan, told a United Nations Commission on Narcotics Drugs (CND) Monday.

China is drafting its first drug control law, which is expected to guide the drug control practice in all relevant fields and safeguard the healthy and orderly development of drug control, Zhang said at the CND's 47th session.

Zhang said China has fixed money laundering as a criminal offense in its Criminal Code. Other measures include establishing anti-money laundering units within the Central Bank and the Public Security Ministry.

China has developed effective national drug control strategy, set up a total of 591 compulsory drug treatment centers, and launched piloting drug substitution therapy programs.

China attaches high importance to law enforcement cooperation and mutual legal assistance to tackle transnational drug crimes, and has, by March 2000, signed 60 mutual legal assistance protocols, extradition agreements or protocols on transfer of tried criminals with 40 countries, Zhang said.

Zhang pledged further cooperation with other countries, UN agencies and international organizations in drug control campaigns. 　

The seven-day session will assess the implementation of the 1998 plans set by UN General Assembly special session on drug control.

(Xinhua News Agency March 15, 2004)