Undated file photo of Yang Xiuzhu, the former deputy Mayor of Wenzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province. Yang, China's most-wanted fugitive suspected of corruption, is in US custody and waiting for extradition. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]

BEIJING - A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson urged the United States Thursday to repatriate a fugitive ex-Chinese official at the earliest date.

Spokesman Hong Lei's remarks came after the first hearing in the trial of China's most wanted economic fugitive Yang Xiuzhu took place in a New York immigration court Tuesday.

Yang should be punished in China according to Chinese law, said Hong at a routine press briefing.

Yang, former vice mayor of Wenzhou in east China's Zhejiang Province, fled China with her family when investigators started looking into her activities in 2003. Investigators have found evidence that she accepted 253 million yuan (about 41 million US dollars at current price) in bribes.

China released a list of 100 economic fugitives in April as part of the country's recent anti-corruption campaign. Yang is on the list.

Last month, a source from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that Yang has been detained in the United States. ICE accused Yang of "violating the terms of the Visa Waiver Program" and asked the immigration court to deport her to China.

China and the United States have cooperated in several cases through relevant channel, Hong said, noting that the two sides will further joint efforts in striking against transnational crime.

He stressed that the Chinese government will continue its efforts in pursuing fugitive suspects.