Chinese official to head Interpol

A top Chinese security official was today elected to head the Interpol, in a move that fortifies China's global influence and could boost its anti-graft campaign in tracking fugitives who have fled the country.
Vice Minister for Public Security Meng Hongwei was elected President of the International Criminal Police Organisation, making him the first Chinese official to take the prestigious post.
Meng took over from his predecessor Mireille Ballestrazzi of France at the closing ceremony of Interpol's 85th General Assembly in Bali, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Hailing's Meng's election, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters here that it showed China would like to shoulder more responsibility and contribute to the global law enforcement.

Besides boosting China's global influence, the move was expected to give a fillip to the anti-graft campaign launched by President Xi Jinping after he took over in 2012, helping Beijing in tracking down fugitives or suspects staying abroad.
More than a million officials have been punished under the crackdown. Chinese police have brought over 400 fugitives from at least 61 countries in a campaign called "fox hunt".

Official estimates say that the officials accused of corruption fled the country with more than USD 126 billion.
Meng's election also gives China another seat at a global organisation tasked with fighting transnational crimes.

In his speech, Meng promised to work together with all member-states of Interpol to build the international group into a stronger platform for global police cooperation.
He said he will promote a "more effective" global police cooperation, better support the capacity-building efforts of police in member-countries, with a view to building a safer world and a more efficient Interpol.
The Interpol President heads its Executive Committee and is elected by the General Assembly for a period of four years.
Meng's new charge will include chairing meetings of the committee which ensures the implementation of decisions made at the General Assembly.

Founded in 1914 and now headquartered in Lyon, France, Interpol is the second-largest international organisation after the United Nations with 190 members.
By establishing a global police communications system, the agency has played an important role in deepening international police cooperation to combat transnational criminal offences.
China became a member state of Interpol in September 1984.
The 86th General Assembly of Interpol is scheduled to be held in China in 2017, according to the report.