BEIJING -- The top legislature on Friday voted to adopt a new law on international criminal judicial assistance in an effort to combat cross-border crimes and safeguard the national interest.

Lawmakers approved the legislation at the end of a five-day bimonthly session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference, Zhang Xiaoming, deputy head of the Ministry of Justice's international cooperation department, said the legislation was aimed at strengthening international cooperation and combating organized crime, including corruption.

The assistance refers to providing mutual support when China and other countries deal with criminal cases, including legal document delivery, investigation and evidence collection, freezing, confiscating and recovering assets, as well as transfer and management of offenders, the law stipulated.

Such assistance should be made without harming China's sovereignty, security and social interests and violating China's laws.

According to the law, if an offender is a citizen of a receiving country and if their acts constitute a crime in both countries, they can be transferred home for criminal punishment. Such a transfer can only be made with the permission of the two countries and the offender in question.

Without the authorization of Chinese authorities, no agencies, organizations or individuals within the Chinese territory are allowed to provide foreign countries with evidence, materials and assistance as stipulated, it said.