The Center for Foreign-Related Criminal Rights Protection and Risk Prevention, China's first research center focusing on foreign-related criminal affairs, was launched recently at the East China University of Political Science and Law in Shanghai.

The center will focus on key areas, including governance of foreign-related money laundering and cross-border capital flows, tax-related criminal risks in overseas operations, criminal governance of digital currencies and cross-border financial activities, transnational asset recovery and return mechanisms, anti-smuggling, overseas compliance, and criminal dispute resolution.

The center aims to establish a think tank platform for safeguarding lawful rights and preventing risks, as well as build a collaborative innovation ecosystem integrating industry, academia, research and practice. It is expected to enhance international exchanges and cooperation with optimized mechanisms for case sharing, joint research and talent cultivation.

"With rights protection and risk prevention as its starting point, the center seeks to better serve national strategic deployments in the field of foreign-related rule of law and meet the development needs of Shanghai," Sun Wanhuai, director of the center and head of Criminal Justice College at East China University of Political Science and Law, said.

Luo Peixin, vice-president of the university, added that the establishment of the center holds significant importance for safeguarding the lawful rights and interests of overseas Chinese companies and people, enhancing corporate international competitiveness and soft power, and elevating the nation's global image.