BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Suspects of duty-related crimes who have fled China should give themselves up if they want leniency, according to an announcement released Thursday.

Fugitives who opt to surrender before Dec. 31 and confess to their crimes will be eligible for lesser punishments, said the announcement jointly issued by the National Supervisory Commission, Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate, Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Fugitives can turn themselves in to supervisory or public security authorities, procuratorates, courts, institutions where they work or to related grassroots authorities and organizations.

They can also visit China's overseas embassies and consulates.

Fugitives who redress victims' economic losses, return illicit gains, or assist authorities in their pursuit of other fugitives may be given a mitigated punishment or exempted from punishment, the announcement said.

The announcement encouraged relatives and friends of fugitives, and other individuals and organizations to persuade the fugitives to give themselves up.

Those who provide information on the whereabouts of fugitives will be rewarded, their personal safety will be protected and their personal information will be kept credential.