Vice Minister: China records 30 percent fewer crime cases in the first seven months

Public security in China has improved significantly in recent years. The number of registered criminal cases in the first seven months of this year fell by 30.1 percent compared to the previous year, corresponding to a decline of 14 months in a row, said Qi Yanjun, Vice Minister of Public Security, on Tuesday.

At a press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO), Qi said the number of telecommunications fraud cases fell by 23.8 percent between January and July, maintaining an 11-month downward trend compared to the same period last year.

“From January to July this year, the number of crime cases registered nationwide fell by 30.1 percent year-on-year, a decline of 14 consecutive months. The number of registered telecom fraud cases also fell by 23.8 percent year-on-year, continuing an 11-month year-on-year downward trend. The current murder case clearance rate is at a record high of 99.94 percent. The country's public security index for 2023 was 98.2 percent, remaining above 98 percent for four consecutive years,” Qi said.

Since 2019, police authorities in China have introduced a number of new measures to benefit the population and businesses, the vice minister said.

“To benefit the people and enterprises, we have introduced over 240 reform measures to further optimize the business environment with an emphasis on economic and social development. In terms of integrated urban and rural development, we have pushed forward the urbanization of rural migrants in an orderly manner. Since 2014, a total of 150 million rural migrants have settled in cities steadily and in an orderly manner, and the urbanization rate of the registered population has increased from 35.9 percent in 2014 to 48.3 percent in 2023,” he said.

With regard to public security and budgetary affairs, the Ministry has continued its efforts to facilitate inter-provincial budgetary affairs as well as the issuance, loss reporting and renewal of identity cards.

In the area of ​​traffic administration, the ministry has introduced ten packages of traffic management reform measures, benefiting over 800 million people and reducing costs to the public by more than 70 billion yuan (US$9.83 billion).

“Based on the principle of equal protection under the law, public security authorities have investigated 396,000 criminal cases of intellectual property infringement and market disruption and promoted the drafting and revision of more than 50 laws and regulations related to public security,” he said.

Vice Minister: China records 30 percent fewer crime cases in the first seven months

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) will strengthen its cooperation with China in tackling global challenges, said IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong, proposing the Chinese legislative model to the countries of the global South.

Chungong and IPU President Tulia Ackson, as well as parliamentary leaders and representatives from more than 30 developing countries, were in China from 19 to 28 August to attend a commemoration ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of the National People's Congress's affiliation with the IPU and the 2024 Interregional Seminar on Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Parliaments of Developing Countries.

In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) during the visit, Chungong praised China's contribution to the IPU's work over the past four decades.

“The Chinese National People’s Congress has strongly supported parliaments in [in achieving] the Sustainable Development Goals. The Chinese authorities support the IPU as part of our efforts to promote the contribution of parliaments to efforts to counter the scourge of terrorism and violent extremism in the world. We receive a strong contribution from China when it comes to parliamentary efforts to combat climate change,” said Chungong.

He said the IPU would strengthen its cooperation with China in addressing global challenges.

“President Xi himself has reiterated his commitment to the IPU's values ​​and goals, which include parliamentary diplomacy and dialogue between parliaments to build a peaceful and sustainable world. So what we need to do is work together as a global community. And we are very happy that China is taking the lead in this particular aspect. And we think it is important for us to continue to work together, especially to promote inclusive governance,” said the IPU Secretary General.

Chungong and other seminar participants visited a contact point for deputies to the People's Congress in Xinghualing subdistrict of Taiyuan city, north China's Shanxi province, where they attended a meeting of the deputies on a draft regulation on Shanxi sports development.

They also visited a grassroots parliamentary contact point in Heping District, Tianjin City.

“I want to congratulate the Chinese authorities on their Chinese model. I see it in the National People's Congress, which is a broadly inclusive legislative body that represents all parts of society, people from all walks of life and minorities. We see the integrated approach that is being taken here, so the inputs of local communities through the provincial congresses to the National People's Congress. And ultimately, we think that your model is not resource intensive. In the developing countries, in the Global South, the resource issue is one that we have to include in our solutions. And that is why we are proposing this model to the countries in the Global South,” the IPU Secretary General told CGTN.

Secretary General: IPU strengthens cooperation with China on global challenges