China’s top police official and FBI Director Kash Patel agreed on Friday to strengthen law enforcement cooperation, signalling continued engagement between Beijing and Washington despite broader geopolitical tensions.
The meeting in Beijing comes shortly after both countries carried out reciprocal repatriations of fugitives, highlighting growing practical cooperation even though China and the United States do not have a formal extradition treaty.
According to China’s Ministry of Public Security, Minister Wang Xiaohong told Patel that both sides should pursue “more constructive dialogue based on mutual respect” and deepen practical cooperation against a range of cross-border crimes.
The discussions covered areas including narcotics control, cybercrime, telecom fraud, money laundering, fugitive recovery and crimes involving children.
Following the meeting, Patel described the talks as productive.
In a post on X, the FBI Director said the direct engagement with Chinese public security officials had already delivered tangible results, including efforts to disrupt fentanyl precursor supply chains, expand cooperation against online scam centres, investigate violent crimes against children and strengthen joint work on fugitive cases.
The meeting follows two significant law enforcement actions between the two countries.
On Thursday, China’s Ministry of Public Security announced it had handed over a U.S. fugitive wanted for serious violent offences, including the alleged murder of a spouse and the sexual assault of a minor.
Days earlier, the United States repatriated to China a fugitive accused of kidnapping and murdering Chinese nationals overseas. Chinese state media described the transfer as another example of successful cooperation following agreements reached by the two governments.
Beijing said law enforcement agencies from both countries had recently worked together on a series of cases involving counter-narcotics operations, the repatriation of illegal migrants, anti-money laundering efforts, cyber and telecom fraud, and the return of fugitives.
Chinese officials said the cooperation reflects the consensus reached between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump to strengthen collaboration on transnational crime.
Cooperation on fentanyl has become one of the few areas where both governments have maintained sustained engagement despite broader disputes over trade, technology and security.
Patel previously travelled to Beijing in November 2025 to discuss fentanyl trafficking and broader law enforcement cooperation following the Trump-Xi summit held the previous month, where both leaders agreed to intensify efforts against illicit fentanyl supply chains.
Friday’s meeting also comes ahead of another planned summit between Trump and Xi. Trump has said the Chinese president is expected to visit Washington in September, where the two leaders are likely to discuss trade, artificial intelligence, security issues and continued cooperation on combating transnational crime.
While strategic competition continues to define much of the U.S.-China relationship, law enforcement remains one of the few areas where both governments continue to pursue practical cooperation.
(with inputs from Reuters)
