De Lima meets China counterparts

MANILA, Philippines - Officials of the Department of Justice and China’s Ministry of Justice met yesterday to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in judicial administration and the implementation of existing agreements in judicial and legal matters.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima had a bilateral meeting with her counterpart, Wu Aiying of China’s Ministry of Justice, in Beijing.

De Lima also had talks with State Councilor and Minister for Public Security Meng Jianzhu on the enhancement of cooperation between the Philippines and China on law enforcement, particularly in drug trafficking and other transnational crimes.

De Lima’s official meetings with her counterparts highlighted the commitment of both governments to bring the bilateral relationship to a higher level through stronger coordination and cooperation encompassing various sectors.

The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier said more than 200 Filipinos have been detained in China since 2006. Seventy-two of them are on death row for drug trafficking, 38 have life sentences and nearly 80 are serving 15-year jail terms, while 35 cases are still being heard.