RP-China convict-transfer pact gets nod

SHANGHAI (via PLDT) – When President Arroyo makes a state visit to China next week, she will discuss with President Jiang Zemin the signing of an agreement for the repatriation of Filipino and Chinese men who have been convicted and jailed in China and the Philippines.

Mrs. Arroyo told reporters she and Jiang reached the agreement Sunday night during a bilateral meeting at the International Media Center in Shanghai before the Chief Executive flew home following the two-day Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) leaders’ summit.

"I told President Jiang that when I go to Beijing next week, I would like to further discuss with him how the Philippines and China extradition treaty and a police cooperation agreement can strengthen the fight against narcotics and other transnational crimes," she said.

"He (Jiang) said he would immediately instruct his foreign minister to work out the details of the proposed agreement."

Mrs. Arroyo said the planned agreement with China will be similar to that which the Philippines signed with Thailand when Prime Minister Thaksin visited the Philippines last week.

Mrs. Arroyo said the seven Chinese men who had been arrested in La Union in the Jackie Tiu kidnapping case, and the Chinese who was picked up, along with a Quezon town mayor, last week for smuggling P1 billion worth of shabu, will be the target of any agreement which the Philippines and China would sign. – With Rey Arquiza