Ministry of Public Security hosts 14th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime

• Vietnam contributes to strengthening ASEAN-UN cooperation: official
• The 14th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime officially opened
• ASEAN cohesive and proactive adaptation in preventing and fighting transnational crimes

Vietnam's Prime Minister (PM) Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended and delivered a keynote speech at the opening session. General To Lam, Vietnamese Minister of Public Security, Head of Vietnam’s AMMTC Delegation chaired the event and made the opening remarks.

Overview of the event.

Present at the hub in Hanoi were Mr. Mai Tien Dung, Minister – Chief of Vietnamese Governmental Office as well as representatives from all embassies of the ASEAN member countries in Hanoi, leaders of the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security (MPS), relevant ministries, agencies and the Hanoi authorities.

The ministers in charge of transnational crime prevention of the ASEAN member countries, the ASEAN Secretary General, and Chairman of the ASEAN Directors-General of Immigration Departments and Heads of Consular Affairs Divisions of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs (DGICM) participated in the event online.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the event.

In his remarks, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc noted that at the recent 37th ASEAN Summit, leaders of the ASEAN member states agreed on measures and major orientations to develop the people-centered ASEAN Community and assist people and businesses to soon overcome the COVID-19 pandemic’s negative impacts, restore their normal production and lives, ensure social order, and recover economic growth.

According to the Vietnamese Prime Minister, the Political-Security Community is an important pillar in building a united and strong ASEAN Community, helping it bring into full play its stature and central role in regional security mechanisms, he said.

Together with the COVID-19 combat, regional countries are facing with another “dangerous enemy” -- growing transnational crime, the Vietnamese PM said, pointing out that anti-pandemic measures have led to stagnation in production and business activities and an increase in unemployment on one hand, and contributed to growing crimes, especially cybercrime, on the other hand.

General To Lam speaks at the event.

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 in charge of transnational crime prevention and control, contributing to regional peace, security, and stability.

To build a cohesive and responsive ASEAN in combating transnational crime, PM Phuc suggested some priorities, including fully and effectively implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the Hanoi Declaration on the ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision, with a focus on the building of a strong Political-Security Community.

ASEAN countries should increase building trust, enhance information sharing on transnational crime prevention and control, and not let any organizations or individuals use one country’s territory as a base to harm others.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Minister  To Lam at the event.

They should also enhance cooperation and exchange experience in fighting transnational crime to ensure security and safety for ASEAN citizens and prevent social uncertainties caused by COVID-19, according to the PM.

He affirmed Vietnam’s commitment to exert every effort to join other member states in building an ASEAN Community of peace, stability, and development.

Addressing the meeting, Minister To Lam stated that AMMTC is one of the key cooperation mechanisms of the ASEAN Political-Security Community, at which ministers of ASEAN member countries can discuss and seek approaches and action plans to address issues related to transnational crime prevention, contributing to maintaining peace, security and stability in the region.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc; Minister To Lam and other delegates at the opening ceremony of the AMMTC 14 in Hanoi.

Regional countries should 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 Community that actively expands cooperation with other countries, regions and the rest of the world, he added.

Immediately after the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Minister of Public Security To Lam chaired the plenary session of the AMMTC 14.

* Earlier, on November 25, the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC), a preparatory session for the 14th AMMTC, opened in Hanoi. Lieutenant General Nguyen Thanh Son, Director of the Foreign Relations Department under the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and Head of the Vietnam's SOMTC Delegation chaired the session.