Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said completing the extradition treaty with China, compared to that with Singapore, did not take much time.

"We appreciate the commitment. The extradition is a reflection of a strong political goodwill to extend cooperation in various issues, particularly in legal problems," he said.

The signing of the extradition treaty, which would complete an already running MLA, was initially scheduled for mid March after Beijing invited Hassan to visit.

"But it conflicted with some other schedules, so now we're working on a new date," the minister said.

An extradition treaty allows the deportation of suspected criminals to the home country, while an MLA does that for suspected stolen state assets.

The ministry's director for international treaties on political, security and territorial affairs, Arif Havas Oegroseno, said the process with Beijing commenced in early 2007 and was essentially completed by mid year.

"It took only two meetings. It was quiet smooth because both countries happen to apply civil law, which is not the case with Singapore," he said.

It took more than two years before an extradition treaty with Singapore was eventually signed last year.

The treaty, along with the Defense Cooperation Agreement, has faced troubles -- the House of Representatives harshly criticized the details and has not agreed to ratify it.

Havas said he would not discuss the types of crimes included in the extradition with China, but said it contained all actions both countries recognized as a crime.

"We call it an open system," he said.

On the MLA with Hong Kong, Havas said it would complement an already in-place extradition agreement.

"We expect to sign it on April 8," he said.

These treaties, Havas said, were aimed at restricting the movement of fugitives suspected to be abroad hiding state assets allegedly stolen through the infamous Bank Indonesia's Liquidation Support disbursements in the wake of the late 1990s financial crisis.

Popular

Fuel price hike in the cards if budget ‘can’t bear’ oil subsidy

Raw catfish sparks nationwide shutdown of free-meal kitchens

Literate, independent and abused: Indonesian women’s hidden reality