Ying Yong, Chief Grand Prosecutor and Prosecutor General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) of China, led a Chinese procuratorial delegation to the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in Luxembourg from Sept 2 to 4 local time, at the invitation of European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kovesi. He held a working meeting with Kovesi and the incoming European Chief Prosecutor Andres Ritter.
During the visit, Ying also met separately with Koen Lenaerts, President of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), and Claude Wiseler, President of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg.
Ying Yong, Chief Grand Prosecutor and Prosecutor General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate of China, holds a working meeting with European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kovesi and the incoming European Chief Prosecutor Andres Ritter.
In his meeting with Kovesi and Ritter, Ying noted that China and the European Union (EU) are comprehensive strategic partners. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two sides have upheld mutual respect, sought common ground while reserving differences, and pursued open, mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation.
The two sides have maintained close interactions at all levels and across various fields, resulting in fruitful outcomes through dialogue and cooperation. The China-EU relationship has developed into one of the world's most influential bilateral partnerships.
Ying said that Chinese procuratorial organs, as the country's legal supervision organs, will continue to fulfill their responsibilities in serving the overall interests of the country, delivering justice for the people, and shouldering the responsibility of upholding the rule of law, so as to support and serve Chinese modernization through the high-quality development of procuratorial work.
He added that the SPP of China is ready to work with the EPPO under the strategic guidance of Chinese and EU leaders to enhance exchanges, dialogue and mutual trust, and to strengthen pragmatic cooperation in combating crimes, providing judicial assistance in criminal matters, recovering illicit assets, and exchanging judicial experience, in a bid to provide robust legal safeguards for deepening China-EU cooperation.
Kovesi and Ritter warmly welcomed the Chinese delegation and said the visit marked a new starting point for closer exchanges and cooperation between the EPPO and Chinese law enforcement and judicial organs, including the SPP. They also highlighted the potential for expanding cooperation in areas such as combating transnational crime, training judicial personnel, and sharing experience of judicial systems and practice, thereby leveraging the rule of law to support the sound and steady growth of EU-China relations.
Ying Yong and Laura Kovesi jointly sign a working arrangement and a 2026-2028 cooperation plan between the Supreme People's Procuratorate of China and the European Public Prosecutor's Office.
Ying Yong meets with the incoming European Chief Prosecutor Andres Ritter.
During the meeting, Ying and Kovesi jointly signed a working arrangement and a 2026-2028 cooperation plan between the SPP and the EPPO. These were the first cooperation documents signed by the two sides. Under the working arrangement, the two sides will hold regular consultations on issues of mutual concern within their respective legal frameworks, increase mutual visits and the exchanges of judicial expertise, and jointly combat crimes, including economic and financial crimes, organized crime and money laundering. These efforts are expected to facilitate more effective procuratorial cooperation.
Ying Yong holds a working meeting with Koen Lenaerts, President of the Court of Justice of the European Union.
In his meeting with Lenaerts, Ying briefed him on China's judicial system and procuratorial work, noting that judicial exchanges and cooperation are integral to the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership.
Ying stressed China's commitment to strengthening judicial cooperation with European countries. In recent years, the SPP has actively promoted exchanges and cooperation with EU law enforcement and judicial bodies, including the EPPO. He said the SPP is ready to work with the CJEU and other EU law enforcement and judicial bodies to improve law enforcement and judicial capacity and standards, better uphold the rule of law, and safeguard fairness and justice.
Lenaerts, for his part, expressed willingness to further strengthen exchanges, mutual learning and pragmatic cooperation with Chinese judicial and procuratorial organs, and to contribute to consolidating and deepening friendly relations between the EU and China.
Ying Yong meets with Claude Wiseler, President of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg.
Meeting with Wiseler and presidium members of Luxembourg's Chamber of Deputies, the head of its judiciary committee, and representatives of Luxembourg's courts and procuratorial organs, Ying highlighted the positive momentum in China-Luxembourg relations and described the bilateral ties as a model of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes and political systems.
Noting that next year will mark the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Luxembourg, Ying stated that the SPP is ready to further deepen exchanges and mutual learning and develop friendly cooperative partnerships with the legislative, law enforcement and judicial bodies of Luxembourg, including its Chamber of Deputies and Prosecutor General's Office, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, so as to provide robust legal support for strengthening bilateral cooperation in various fields.
Wiseler noted the long-standing friendship between Luxembourg and China and the sound and steady growth of bilateral relations built on mutual respect and trust. He said the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China's legislative, law enforcement and judicial organs, including China's National People's Congress and SPP, and pragmatically advance cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, finance, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges. These efforts, he said, aim to jointly address global challenges and advance bilateral relations to new heights.
Chen Yong, Chief Prosecutor of the Shanghai Municipal People's Procuratorate, Zhao Tieshi, Chief Prosecutor of the Jiangsu Provincial People's Procuratorate, and Shen Jian, Chief Prosecutor of the Gansu Provincial People's Procuratorate, attended the visit. Cai Run, head of the Chinese Mission to the EU, and Hua Ning, Chinese Ambassador to Luxembourg, accompanied the delegation during relevant activities.
