Beijing's most wanted: US repatriates one of the leading 'Sky Net' fugitives days before Xi Jinping's visit
Yang Jinjun, who is suspected of bribery and corruption and fled to the US in 2001, was on list of mainland anti-graft operation's 100 'wanted' fugitives
The US government has repatriated one of Beijing’s most wanted fugitives to China ahead of a state visit by President Xi Jinping , a sign of improving cooperation between the two countries that raises hopes more such repatriations may follow.
Yang Jinjun, 57, who is suspected of bribery and corruption and fled to the United States in 2001, was listed as a wanted person by the Chinese government this year. He was charged on his return to China yesterday.
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Yang, a native of Wenzhou , was general manager and legal representative of Minghe Group before fleeing the country in 2001.
He is the first of 100 targets whose names were made public by the government in April to be forcibly repatriated to China by the US government, according to a statement released by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection on Friday.
Jia Xiudong, a researcher at the China Institute of International Studies, said Yang’s repatriation was a positive signal and a new highlight for China-US relations, especially days ahead of Xi’s first state visit to the US next week.
China has called for the US to help repatriate corrupt Chinese officials or businessmen hiding in the US.