Cyprus, China officials talk prosecutorial cooperation

Attorney-general George Savvides and deputy attorney-general Savvas Angelides,along with Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotison Tuesday met the deputy attorney-general of the People’s Republic of China Chen Guoqing to exchange information regarding the operation of the prosecutorial system in Cyprus.

During the meeting, Savvides provided a detailed explanation of the role, powers and responsibilities of the attorney-general, as defined by the Cypriot constitution.

He also addressed issues related to state and private criminal prosecutions and other aspects of criminal law. Discussions included specialised topics such as cybercrime, child pornography, electronic fraud, and measures to protect citizens from the spread of false information online.

Chen expressed gratitude for the meeting and highlighted the traditionally close relations between Cyprus and China.

On his part, he also detailed the role of the Chinese prosecutor’s office, which employs 220,000 staff members, including 70,000 prosecutors.

Chen also thanked Cyprus’ legal service and justice ministry for their judicial cooperation under bilateral agreements on asset seizure and forfeiture related to criminal activities.

He extended an official invitation for the Cypriot delegation to visit the Chinese prosecutor’s office in 2025.

The meeting concluded with an agreement to further strengthen relations and exchange visits at various levels.