Key practical points:
• Cooperation covers serving documents, gathering evidence, locating persons, and confiscating and returning proceeds of crime.
• Requests go through designated central authorities, such as the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Public Security, not directly.
• Foreign authorities may not carry out investigative activities inside China except through this official framework.
• No organization or individual in China may provide evidence or assistance to a foreign authority without approval from the competent authorities.
• The law provides mechanisms to recover and return criminal assets and proceeds.
• It aims to support anti-corruption and cross-border crime efforts while protecting sovereignty.
International Criminal Judicial Assistance Law of China · Yalla China
中华人民共和国国际刑事司法协助法 / International Criminal Judicial Assistance Law of the PRC
Enacted: 2018-10-26 ✅ Effective: 2018-10-26
📝 Overview
This law governs cooperation between China and other countries in criminal matters, such as exchanging evidence and documents, summoning witnesses, and recovering assets. It took effect in 2018.
This is general information only, not legal advice. For your specific case, consult a licensed lawyer.
📜 The law text / key provisions
💬 Practical reading
💬 This is a general reading/opinion for orientation — not the official legal text nor legal advice.
If you or your company are asked to provide evidence or information to a foreign judicial authority about a criminal case, do not do so directly, as it may breach the law; consult a lawyer and check whether it must go through official channels. This is general orientation, not legal advice.
📎 Official source
National People's Congress / npc.gov.cn
🕒 Updated: 16 March 2026