China's lawmakers on Monday began to deliberate a set of treaties on judicial cooperation with foreign countries, and were expected to ratify them during a five-day session.

The pacts, two on the transfer of convicted criminals with the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Australia respectively, and one with Venezuela on judicial assistance, were submitted by the State Council, or cabinet, to the 8th session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) for approval.

The criminal transfer treaties would allow convicted persons to serve prison sentences in their home countries and facilitate their rehabilitation and eventual return to the society, Wu Aiying, minister of justice, said when explaining the treaties to the legislators.

Vice Foreign Minister Li Jinzhang said the judicial assistance pact would help crack down on criminal activities and protect the legal rights of citizens and companies of China and Venezuela.

The treaties, signed with Australia in September 2007, with the ROK in May 2008 and with Venezuela in September 2008, were believed to help further China's judicial cooperation with foreign countries and boost the friendly bilateral ties with the nations concerned, the State Council said.

(Xinhua News Agency April 20, 2009)