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Treaty between the Republic of Latvia and the People's Republic of China on Mutual Judicial Assistance in Criminal Matters

The Republic of Latvia and the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as "the Parties"),

With a view to improving the effective cooperation between the two countries in respect of mutual judicial assistance in criminal matters on the basis of mutual respect for sovereignty and equality and mutual benefit,

Have decided to conclude this Treaty and have agreed as follows:

Article 1

Scope of Application

1. The Parties shall, in accordance with the provisions of this Treaty, provide mutual judicial assistance in proceedings in respect of criminal matters.

2. This Treaty does not apply to:

(a) the extradition of any person;

(b) the execution of criminal judgements, verdicts or decisions rendered in the Requesting Party except to the extent permitted by the laws of the Requested Party and this Treaty;

(d) the transfer of criminal proceedings.

3. This Treaty shall only apply to mutual judicial assistance between both Parties. The provisions of this Treaty shall deny any private person any right to obtain or exclude any evidence, or to impede the execution of a request.

Article 2

Central Authorities

1. For the purpose of this Treaty, the Central Authorities designated by the Parties shall communicate directly with each other for matters concerning mutual request and assistance.

2. The Central Authorities referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be the Ministry of Interior, the General Prosecutor's Office and the Ministry of Justice for the Republic of Latvia, and the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme People's Procuratorate for the People's Republic of China.

3. Should either Party change its designated Central Authority, it shall inform the other Party of such change through diplomatic channels.

Article 3

Refusal or Postponement of Assistance

1. The Requested Party may refuse to provide assistance if:

(a) the request relates to conduct which would not constitute an offence under the laws of the Requested Party;

(b) the request is considered by the Requested party as relating to a political offence;

(d) there are substantial grounds for the Requested Party to believe that the request has been made for the purpose of investigating, prosecuting, punishing or other proceedings against a person on account of that person's race, sex, religion, nationality or political opinions, or that that person's position may be prejudiced for any of those reasons;

(e) the Requested Party has already rendered a final judgment or decision on the same person for the same offence as related in the request;

(f) the Requested Party determines that the execution of the request would impair its sovereignty, security, public order or other essential public interests, or would be contrary to the fundamental principles of its national laws.

2. The Requested Party may postpone to provide assistance if execution of a request would interfere with an ongoing investigation, prosecution or other proceedings in the Requested Party.

3. Before refusing a request or postponing its execution, the Requested Party shall consider whether assistance may be granted subject to such conditions as it deems necessary. If the Requesting Party accepts assistance subject to these conditions, it shall comply with them.

4. If the Requested Party refuses or postpones to provide assistance, it shall inform the Requesting party of the reasons for the refusal or postponement.

Article 4

Form and Content of Requests

1. A request shall be made in writing and affixed with the signature or seal of the requesting authority of the Requesting Party. In urgent situations, the Requested Party may accept a request in other forms and the Requesting Party shall confirm the request in writing promptly thereafter unless the Requested Party agrees otherwise.

2. A request for assistance shall include the following:

(a) the name of the competent authority conducting the investigation, prosecution or other proceedings to which the request relates;

(b) a description of the nature of the relevant case, a summary of the relevant facts of and the provisions of laws applicable to the case to which the request relates;

(d) the time limit within which the request is desired to be executed.

3. To the extent necessary and possible, a request shall also include the following:

(a) information on the identity, residence and relationship to the proceedings of a person involved in any of proceedings, including a person from whom evidence is sought, a person to be served and a person to be located or identified;

(b) a description of the place or object to be inspected or examined;

(d) a description of the place to be searched and of the property to be inquired, frozen and seized;

(e) a description of the need for confidentiality and the reasons thereof;

(f) information as to the allowances and expenses to which a person invited to be presented in the Requesting Party to give evidence or assist in investigation will be entitled; and

(g) such other information which may facilitate execution of the request.

4. If the Requested Party considers the contents contained in the request not sufficient to enable it to deal with the request, it may request additional information.

5. Requests and supporting documents made under this Article shall be accompanied by translations in the language of the Requested Party or in the English language.

Article 5

Execution of Requests

1. The Requested Party shall promptly execute a request for assistance in accordance with its national laws.

2. Insofar as not contrary to its national laws, the Requested Party may execute the request for assistance in the manner requested by the Requesting Party.

3. The Requested Party shall promptly inform the Requesting Party of the outcome of the execution of the request. If the assistance requested can not be provided, the Requested Party shall inform the Requesting Party of the reasons.

Article 6

Confidentiality and Limitation on Use

1. The Requested Party shall keep confidential a request, including its contents, supporting documents and any action taken in accordance with the request, if so requested by the Requesting Party. If the request cannot be executed without breaching such confidentiality, the Requested Party shall so inform the Requesting Party, which shall then determine whether the request should nevertheless be executed.

2. The Requesting Party shall keep confidential the information and evidence provided by the Requested Party, if so requested by the Requested Party, or shall use such information or evidence only under the terms and conditions specified by the Requested Party.

3. The Requesting Party shall not use any information or evidence obtained under this Treaty for any purposes other than for the case described in the request without the prior consent of the Requested Party.

Article 7

Service of Documents

1. The Requested Party shall, in accordance with its national laws and upon request, effect service of documents that are transmitted by the Requesting Party. However, the Requested Party shall not be obligated to effect service of a document, which requires a person to appear as the accused.

2. The Requested Party shall, after effecting service, provide the Requesting Party a proof of service that shall include the description of the date, place, and manner of service, and be affixed with the signature or seal of the authority, which served the document. If service cannot be effected, the Requesting Party shall be so informed and be advised of the reasons thereof.

Article 8

Taking of Evidence

1. The Requested Party shall, in accordance with its national laws and upon request, take evidence and transmit it to the Requesting Party.

2. When the request concerns the transmission of documents or records, the Requested Party may transmit certified copies or photocopies thereof. However, where the Requesting Party explicitly requires transmission of originals, the Requested Party shall meet such requirement to the extent possible.

3. Insofar as not contrary to the laws of the Requested Party, the documents and other materials to be transmitted to the Requesting Party in accordance with this Article shall be certificated in such forms as may be requested by the Requesting Party in order to make them admissible according to the laws of the Requesting Party.

4. Insofar as not contrary to the laws of the Requested Party, the Requested Party shall permit the presence of such persons as specified in the request during the execution of the request, and shall allow such persons to pose questions, through officials of the competent authority of the Requested Party, to the person from whom evidence is to be taken. For this purpose, the Requested Party shall promptly inform the Requesting Party of the time and place of the execution of the request.

Article 9

Decline to Give Evidence

1. A person who is required to give evidence under this Treaty may decline to give evidence if the laws of the Requested Party permit the person not to give evidence in similar circumstances in proceedings originating in the Requested Party.

2. If a person who is required to give evidence under this Treaty asserts a right or privilege of immunity from giving evidence under the laws of the Requesting Party, the Requested Party shall request the Requesting Party to provide a certificate on the validity of the right or privilege. The certificate provided by the Requesting Party shall be regarded as conclusive evidence on the right or privilege.

Article 10

Availability of Persons to Give Evidence or Assist in Investigation

1. When the Requesting Party requests the appearance of a person to give evidence or assist in investigation in the territory of the Requesting Party, the Requested Party shall invite the person to appear before the appropriate authority in the territory of the Requesting Party. The Requesting Party shall indicate the extent to which allowances and expenses will be paid to the person. The Requested Party shall promptly inform the Requesting Party of the person's acceptance or refusal to give evidence or assist in investigation.

2. The Requesting Party shall transmit any request for the service of a document requiring the appearance of a person before an authority in the territory of the Requesting Party no less than sixty days before the scheduled appearance unless, in urgent cases, the Requested Party has agreed to a shorter period of time.

Article 11

Transfer of Persons in Custody for Giving Evidence or Assisting in Investigations

1. The Requested Party may, at the request of the Requesting Party, temporarily transfer a person in custody in its territory to the Requesting Party for appearing before an authority to give evidence or assist in investigations, provided that the person so consents and the Parties have previously reached a written agreement on the conditions of the transfer.

2. If the person transferred is required to be kept in custody under the laws of the Requested Party, the Requesting Party shall hold that person in custody.

3. The Requesting Party shall promptly return the person transferred to the Requested Party as soon as he/she finishes giving evidence or assisting in investigations.

4. For the purpose of this Article, the person transferred shall receive credit for service of the sentence imposed in the Requested Party for the period of time served in the custody of the Requesting Party.

Article 12

Protection of Witnesses and Experts

1. Any witness or expert present in the territory of the Requesting Party shall not be investigated, prosecuted, detained, punished or subject to any other restriction of personal liberty by the Requesting Party for any acts or omissions which precedes that person's entry into its territory, nor shall that person be obliged to give evidence or to assist in any investigation, prosecution or other proceedings other than that to which the request relates, except with the prior consent of the Requested Party and that person.

2. Paragraph 1 of this Article shall cease to apply if the person referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article has stayed on in the territory of the Requesting Party fifteen days after that person has been officially notified that his/her presence is no longer required or, after having left, has voluntarily returned. But this period of time shall not include the time during which the person fails to leave the territory of the Requesting Party for reasons beyond his/her control.

3. A person who declines to give evidence or assist in investigations in accordance with Articles 10 or 11 shall not be subject to any penalty or mandatory restriction of personal liberty for such decline.

Article 13

Inquiry, Search, Freezing and Seizure

1. The Requested Party shall, to the extent its national law permits, execute a request for inquiry, search, freezing and seizure of evidencial materials, articles and assets.

2. The Requested Party shall provide the Requesting Party with such information as requested concerning the results of executing the request, including information on the results of inquiry or search, the place and circumstances of freezing or seizure, and the subsequent custody of such materials, articles or assets.

3. The Requested Party may transmit the seized materials, articles or assets to the Requesting Party if the Requesting Party agrees to the terms and conditions for such transmission as proposed by the Requested Party.

Article 14

Return of Documents, Records and Articles of Evidence to the Requested Party

At the request of the Requested Party, the Requesting Party shall return to the Requested Party the originals of documents or records and articles of evidence provided to it by the latter under this Treaty as soon as possible.

Article 15

Proceeds from Criminal Activities and Instruments of Crime

1. The Requested Party shall, upon request, endeavour to ascertain whether any proceeds from criminal activities or instruments of crime are deposited within its territory and shall notify the Requesting Party of the result of inquiries. In making the request, the Requesting Party shall state to the Requested Party the reasons for inferring that the proceeds or instruments may be deposited in the latter's territory.

2. Once the suspected proceeds or instruments of crime are found in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article, the Requested Party shall, at the request of the Requesting Party, take measures to freeze, seize and forfeit such proceeds or instruments according to its national laws.

3. At the request of the Requesting Party, the Requested Party may, to the extent permitted by its national laws and under the terms and conditions agreed to by the Parties, transfer all or part of the proceeds or instruments of crime, or the proceeds from the sale of such assets to the Requesting Party.

4. In applying this Article, the legitimate rights and interests of the Requested Party and any third party to such proceeds or instruments shall be respected under the laws of the Requested Party.

Article 16

Notification of Results of Proceedings in Criminal Matters

1. A Party that has made a request to the other in accordance with this Treaty shall, at the request of the latter, inform the latter of results of the criminal proceedings to which the request of assistance relates.

2. Either Party shall, upon request, inform the other Party of results of criminal proceedings it has instituted against a national of the latter.

Article 17

Supply of Criminal Records

The Requested Party shall provide, upon request, the Requesting Party with the past criminal records and information of the sentence against the person investigated or prosecuted in a criminal matter in the territory of the Requesting Party, if the person concerned has been subject to penal prosecution in the Requested Party.

Article 18

Exchange of Information on Law

The Parties shall, upon request, furnish each other with the laws in force or the laws used to be in force and information on judicial practice in their respective countries related to the implementation of this Treaty.

Article 19

Authentication and Legalization

For the purpose of this Treaty, any documents transmitted in accordance with this Treaty shall not require any form of authentication or legalization unless this Treaty otherwise provides.

Article 20

Expenses

1. The Requested Party shall meet the cost for executing the request, but the Requesting Party shall bear the following:

(a) expenses for persons to travel to, stay in and leave from the Requested Party under paragraph 4 of Article 8;

(b) allowances or expenses for persons to travel to, stay in and leave from the Requesting Party under Articles 10 or 11 in accordance with the standards or regulations of the place where such allowances or expenses have been incurred;

(d) expenses and fees of translation and interpretation.

2. The Requesting Party shall, upon request, pay in advance the expenses, allowances and fees it shall bear.

3. If it becomes apparent that the execution of a request requires expenses of an extraordinary nature, the Parties shall consult to determine the terms and conditions under which the request can be executed.

Article 21

Service of Documents and Taking of Evidence by Diplomatic or Consular Officials

Either Party may serve documents to and take evidence from its nationals in the territory of the other Party through its diplomatic or consular agents therein, provided that the laws of the other Party will not be violated and no coercive measures of any kind will be taken.

Article 22

Other Basis for Cooperation

This Treaty shall not prevent either Party from providing assistance to the other Party according to other applicable international agreements or its national laws. The Parties may also provide assistance in accordance with any other arrangement, agreement, or practice which may be applicable.

Article 23

Settlement of Dispute

Any dispute arising out of the interpretation and application of this Treaty shall be resolved through consultation by diplomatic channels if the Central Authorities of the Parties are themselves unable to reach agreement.

Article 24

Entry into Force, Amendment and Termination

1. This Treaty is subject to ratification. The instruments of ratification shall be exchanged at Riga. This Treaty shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date of the exchange of the instruments of ratification.

2. The Parties may amend this Treaty at any time by exchange of notes. Such Amendment shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date when the last written notification through diplomatic channels is received.

3. Either Party may terminate this Treaty at any time by giving written notification to the other Party through diplomatic channels. Termination shall take effect on the one hundred and eightieth day after the date on which the notice is given.

4. This Treaty applies to any requests presented after its entry into force even if the relevant acts or omissions occurred before this Treaty enters into force.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorized thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Treaty.

DONE in duplicate at ___Beijing______ on this ___15_____ day of __April______ month ____2004_____ year, in the Latvian, Chinese and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of divergence of interpretation, the English text shall prevail.

For the Republic of Latvia	For the People's Republic of China
Vineta Muižniece	Dai Bing Guo
Minister of Justice	Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

of the Republic of Latvia

of the People's of China