China and ASEAN countries will set up a regional anti-corruption legal framework to facilitate the return of corrupt Chinese officials who are still at large in ASEAN countries and confiscate their ill-gotten assets, a senior anti-graft official said.

China is in advanced negotiations with some ASEAN countries, including Thailand and Laos, to sign bilateral anti-corruption agreements. Meanwhile, China intends to start discussions with ASEAN countries to sign bilateral extradition treaties to bring more fugitives back to face trial, said Liu Jianchao, director of the International Cooperation Bureau under the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

At present, China has signed bilateral anti-corruption agreements with four ASEAN countries and has signed extradition treaties with six ASEAN members, according to the CCDI.