Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (front, centre), Minister of Public Security To Lam (front, third, left), and official pose for a photo at the 14th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime on November 26 (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The 14th ASEANMinisterial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC 14) was held viavideoconference on November 26 under the chair of the Vietnamese Ministryof Public Security (MPS).
In his remarks, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phucnoted that at the recent 37th ASEAN Summit, leaders of the member states agreedon many measures and major orientations for developing the ASEAN Community,with people always at the centre, and assisting people and businesses to soonovercome the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact, stabilise their life, ensure socialorder, and recover economic growth.
In particular, the Political-Security Communityis an important pillar in the building of a united and strong ASEAN Communitythat can bring into play its stature and central role in regional securityissues, he said.
Apart from the COVID-19 combat, regionalcountries have also had to deal with another “dangerous enemy” which is the growingtransnational crime, he said, pointing out that anti-pandemic measures have ledto stagnation in production and business activities and an increase inunemployment, which has triggered crimes, especially cyber crime.
PM Phuc highly valued the theme of the AMMTC 14,“Cohesive and responsive ASEAN in preventing and fighting transnational crime”,which reflects the strong commitment and resolve of the ASEAN ministers incharge of transnational crime prevention and control to contribute to theregional peace, security, and stability.
To build a cohesive and responsive ASEAN in thetransnational crime fight, he suggested some priorities, including fully andeffectively implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the HanoiDeclaration on the ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision, with special attentionpaid to the building of a strong Political-Security Community.
ASEAN countries should increase building trust,further share information among law enforcement agencies, and not let anyorganisations or individuals take advantage of one country’s territory to harmothers.
They also need to enhance cooperation andexchange experience in fighting transnational crime so as to ensure securityand safety for ASEAN citizens and prevent social uncertainties caused by COVID-19,according to the PM.
He affirmed Vietnam’s commitment to exert everyeffort to join other member states in building an ASEAN Community of peace,stability, and development.
Addressing the meeting, Minister of PublicSecurity, General To Lam said the MPS of Vietnam will take an active andresponsible part in cooperation frameworks of ASEAN so as to help maintainpeace and stability for countries to deal with the pandemic’s consequences andrecover.
Regional countries will continue upholding the“cohesive and responsive” spirit to work together in combating transnationalcrime to develop a politically cohesive, economically integrated, and sociallyresponsible ASEAN Community that have extensive cooperation with externalpartners, he added.
During the event, participants reviewed theglobal and regional situation, discuss solutions to promote the realisation oftargets set in the ASEAN Plan of Action to Combat Transnational Crime for2016-2025, and looked into documents on the member states’ initiatives andideas within the AMMTC framework./.
VNA
