China tightens crackdown on telecom fraud: vice-minister

China's public security agencies have tightened efforts to crack down on major transnational crimes like telecom fraud over recent years, arresting over 50,000 fraud suspects operating in northern Myanmar, said a leading official from China's Ministry of Public Security on Tuesday.

In recent years, China's public security agencies have expanded cooperation with the law enforcement departments of the relevant other countries, establishing various cooperation mechanisms for joint operations to combat cross-border crime, said Qi Yanjun, Vice-Minister of Public Security.

"Through our effective law enforcement cooperation, the Myanmar’s police have handed over 10 chief fraud ringleaders including Bai Suocheng to us in a single delivery. By far, more than 50,000 fraud suspects in northern Myanmar have been captured. We have also launched joint crackdown on crimes involving China in the Golden Triangle region, and carried out joint special operations to crack down on transnational crimes with law enforcement agencies in Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and other countries, to severely punish all kinds of transnational crimes involving China," Qi said at a press conference in Beijing.

In the next step, China's public security organs will make every effort to promote closer, more pragmatic law enforcement cooperation with foreign counterparts. Meanwhile, China will constructively join regional and multilateral law enforcement cooperation organizations within the framework of the United Nations, Interpol, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, etc, actively participate in global public security governance, and contribute Chinese wisdom and solutions to the fight against transnational crime.

In response to rampant transnational crimes such as online gambling and telecom and online fraud that arouse strong public resentment, as well as vicious crimes such as kidnapping, murder, and gang-related crimes that occur abroad and involve China, we will strengthen practical cooperation with law enforcement agencies of the relevant countries in case coordination, evidence exchange, and the arrest and repatriation of criminal suspects, make full use of Interpol's resource advantages in combating transnational crime, and always maintain a high-pressure crackdown on all types of transnational crimes involving China," Qi said.

China tightens crackdown on telecom fraud: vice-minister

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said that Iraq had lost about 60 billion U.S. dollars during the recent war between the United States and Iran, according to a statement by the Iraqi Foreign Ministry on Friday.

The ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict exacerbates the global energy crisis and heightens inflationary concerns, adversely affecting global economies, including Europe, warned Hussein during a meeting in Rome with Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Thursday.

He called on the European Union and European nations to play an active role in supporting peaceful initiatives, bridging differences, and encouraging conflicting parties to return to the negotiating table to prevent further escalation.

The two sides also discussed prospects for developing security and military cooperation, particularly in light of developments related to the conclusion of the international coalition's mission in Iraq on Sept 30, according to the statement.

Iraq's economy relies heavily on crude oil exports, which account for about 90 percent of the country's revenues. The country normally exports about 100 million barrels of crude monthly, but volumes have plunged since the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on Feb 28, triggering the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy artery.

Last month, Iraq's Oil Ministry said that the country's crude oil exports averaged about 2.6 million barrels per day in September.

Iraq estimates 60 bln USD losses from U.S.-Iran conflict