Since 2008, more than 10 high-profile Chinese economic fugitives, including corrupt officials and staff from State-owned companies, have been extradited or persuaded to return to China under the intensified judicial cooperation between China and Canada, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

In December 2011, Zeng Hanlin, former chief executive of Guangdong Feilong Group, which specializes in transport services and machinery production, was repatriated to China on contract fraud charges after 12 years on the run in Canada.

In July 2011, Lai Chang-xing, the main suspect in the operations of a huge smuggling ring, was extradited to China after a federal court in Canada rejected his appeal to suspend a repatriation order. The ruling ended a 12-year pursuit.

Last year, Gao Shan, former director of a Bank of China branch in Heilongjiang province, returned to China to surrender after spending eight years in Canada evading financial fraud charges.

More than 100 Chinese fugitives, mainly economic ones, are still at large in Canada, according to figures provided by the Ministry of Public Security.

zhangyan1@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 04/25/2013 page2)