China's national legislature, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), on Friday voted to adopt an extradition treaty with Namibia.

 

The treaty is expected to cement bilateral judicial cooperation and promote bilateral relations.

 

The treaty, signed in December 2005 in Beijing, covers issues such as the types of criminals that can and should be extradited, the procedures and costs of extradition, rules for exception, resolution of disputes.

 

Other items include the procedures for the agreement to take effect, to be enacted and terminated.

 

Chinese Lawmakers discussed the 25-article treaty at the 27th session of the NPC Standing Committee held in Beijing from April 24-27.

 

China and Namibia share a strong traditional friendship and the two sides have seen a boom in bilateral cooperation in political, economic, cultural, diplomatic and military fields, Wu Dawei, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs told Chinese legislators during the legislative session.

 

Since 1993, China has signed extradition treaties with more than 20 countries, including Thailand, Laos, Belarus and South Africa.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 28, 2007)