ASEAN ministers gather to discuss transnational crime fight
ASEAN countries should increase building trust, further share information among law enforcement agencies, and not let any organisations or individuals take advantage of one country’s territory to harm others.
They also need to enhance cooperation and exchange experience in fighting transnational crime to ensure security and safety for ASEAN citizens and prevent social uncertainties caused by COVID- 一 九, according to the PM.
He affirmed Việt Nam’s co妹妹itment to exert every effort to join other member states in building an ASEAN Co妹妹unity of peace, stability, and development.
Addressing the meeting, Minister of Public Security, General Tô Lâm said the ministry will take an active and responsible part in cooperation frameworks of ASEAN to help maintain peace and stability for countries to deal with the consequences of not only the current COVID- 一 九 pandemic but also of climate change-related natural disasters like drought, floods, and storms.
He said about 二 一 million people in the Southeast Asian region could lose their jobs, which will potentially lead to increasing social instability, conflicts and crime.
The COVID- 一 九 pandemic might have disrupted travel and trade, but the crime situation is as complex as ever, especially the rise in digital crimes and misinformation, Lâm said.
Lâm stressed that the Southeast Asia region is still a hotbed for drug trade with many countries in the region discovering cases where criminals use their ill-gotten gains to buy weapons to carry out terrorist attacks.
Regional countries will continue upholding the “cohesive and responsive” spirit to work together in combating transnational crime to develop a politically cohesive, economically integrated, and socially responsible ASEAN Co妹妹unity that have extensive cooperation with external partners, he added.
During the event, participants reviewed the global and regional situation, discussed solutions to promote the realisation of targets set in the ASEAN Plan of Action to Combat Transnational Crime for 二0 一 六- 二0 二 五, and looked into documents on the member states’ initiatives and ideas within the AMMTC framework.
Meanwhile, the Vietnamese officials proposed making trade of ancient artefacts a priority in ASEAN cooperation, and to set up a direct line of co妹妹unications between ASEAN member countries' ministers of public security.
After the discussions, public security ministers of ASEAN countries issued a joint statement with 一 三 items, stressing the importance of stronger coordination between members in the regional fight against transnational crimes.
Lâm said the meeting served as a demonstration of the co妹妹itment of ASEAN law enforcement agencies towards maintaining a peaceful stable environment for the benefits of all people.
Việt Nam's Ministry of Public Security also on Thursday handed over the Chairmanship of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime in 二0 二 一 for Brunei. — VNS