Raising the issue while receiving a delegation of the U.S. National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), Ma pointed out that he put forth a similar proposal when the NAAG last visited Taiwan in 2008.

While there had been no progress in Taiwan's efforts to establish judicial cooperation with China back then, the two sides signed an agreement on the issue in April this year to allow for the repatriation of criminals and suspects, Ma pointed out.

"Our American friends all feel that the United States should speed up its pace in this regard," he said.

Ma told the NAAG delegates that his administration officially ratified in May this year the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights that the country signed in 1967.

Although the Republic of China is no longer a member of the United Nations, which makes it unlikely that the country would be allowed to deposit the ratification instruments with the world body, its support for the two covenants remains unchanged, the president said.

He said the Ministry of Justice has drafted legislation to allow for the covenants' implementation in Taiwan and that the bills are pending approval by the Legislative Yuan for enactment into law.

Ma pledged that the government will strictly comply with the standards of the two covenants to enhance Taiwan's human rights protection.