China on Tuesday joined the international effort to crack down on tax evasion by signing a multilateral tax agreement to share tax and financial information.

The agreement, known as the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, is the first multilateral tax agreement China has ever signed.

Wang Jun, the head of the State Administration of Taxation of China, said that China's participation will help enhance the country's tax cooperation with member states.

"It also reflects further integration and opening up of China's taxation system to the international community," he added.

The convention was started by the Council of Europe and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in 1988. It was initially only open to the members of the two organizations. The convention was opened up to all countries in 2010.

OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría said that China's decision to sign the agreement is a timely and important step in fighting tax evasion.