China apprehended 56 major economic crime suspects from more than 20 countries and regions in 2007, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

The ministry's spokesman, Wu Heping, told reporters on Wednesday that the suspects involved came from places including the Kyrghyz Republic, South Africa, the Philippines, Thailand and Myanmar.

The "splendid results" were achieved by intensified efforts last year to apprehend fugitives who had allegedly fled abroad through enhanced cooperation with international communities, Wu said.

The Chinese government had stepped up law enforcement cooperation with countries including the Netherlands, the United States and Canada through work-related contacts and data exchange, as well as actual apprehensions.

Chinese police had also strengthened negotiations over individual cases with countries including Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines, Wu said. He said that the efforts had achieved favorable results.

The ministry also sent police to international law enforcement conferences to enhance mutual understanding and trust with their foreign counterparts, Wu said.

The ministry said last year that Chinese police had traced more than 300 wanted officials who allegedly fled abroad with illegal gains since 1998, and 37 were arrested and returned to China in 2006 alone.

(Xinhua News Agency January 31, 2008)