China gives U.S. 'Priority List' of fleeing corrupt officials

China has provided U.S. authorities 'a priority list of alleged Chinese corrupt officials' believed to be at large in the United States to request their assistance, reported by the Beijing-based China Daily.

Xu Jinhui, a senior official from the Supreme People's Procuratorate, was cited by the newspaper as saying that Chinese authorities will also start legal procedures to confiscate assets overseas.

"Once in possession of solid evidence, we will initiate confiscation procedures according to the law," he said.

The official noted that China will strengthen cooperation with the United States on major legal cases aimed at repatriating corrupt Chinese officials hiding there as well as confiscating their ill-gotten assets.

On Saturday, federal prosecutors in the US announced they have begun proceedings against Qiao Jianjun, a former officer of China Grain Reserves Corp who is suspected of fraud in obtaining his immigration visa when he entered the US. He is also suspected of transferring 300 million yuan ($48.4 million) to the US through money laundering.

Qiao's former wife was arrested by the FBI, and Qiao is being held.

It is the first instance of a prosecution by US authorities of a suspected corrupt official from China.

Without an extradition treaty with China, the US has become one of the most popular destinations for corrupt officials to flee, transferring large amounts of illegal proceeds through various money-laundering schemes and underground banks.

Since October, Chinese prosecutors have brought back 49 individuals suspected of duty-related crimes from 17 countries and regions, including the US, Canada and Australia.

Meanwhile, Chinese judicial authorities have seized 3 billion yuan ($483 million) of illegal assets that were sent abroad.