Vietnam successfully hosts AMMTC 14 virtually

• Joint Statement of the AMMTC 14: Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN against Transnational Crime
• Remarks by Minister of Public Security To Lam at AMMTC 14
• AMMTC 14’s organizing board summons first meeting

Within the framework of the 14th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC), General To Lam, Vietnamese Minister of Public Security chaired the plenary session immediately after the opening ceremony on November 26.

Overview of 14th AMMTC plenary session in Hanoi.

During the session, the participating ASEAN countries’ ministers in charge of transnational crime prevention reviewed the global and regional situation, discuss approaches to step up the realization of targets set in the ASEAN Plan of Action in Combating Transnational Crime for 2016-2025, and looked into documents on the member states’ initiatives and ideas within the AMMTC framework.

Speaking at the plenary session, Major General Le Tan Toi, Deputy Minister of Public Security and Head of the Organizing Board of the 14th AMMTC, briefed the participants on the results of transnational crime prevention and control in Vietnam since the 13th AMMTC. 

General To Lam chairs the meeting virtually.

At the same time, he affirmed that, as an ASEAN member country, Vietnam commits to actively and responsibly participate in ASEAN's cooperation frameworks in general, and in the field of crime prevention in particular.

In order to enhance the effectiveness of cooperation in the fight against transnational crime, Deputy Minister Le Tan Toi proposed that ASEAN countries continue to support Vietnam's initiatives in the AMMTC framework, including prioritizing antiques smuggling prevention and control, and establishing a direct communication channel at the ministerial level of the AMMTC mechanism.

Deputy Minister Le Tan Toi speaks at the event.

Law enforcement agencies of ASEAN countries should continue to maintain and boost the cooperation, promote the exchange of information and experience in fighting transnational crimes, strengthen investigation coordination, and build capacity of law enforcement officers. 

The ASEAN member states should complete legal documents to create a framework for cooperation on crime prevention and combat within ASEAN as well as between ASEAN and its dialogue partners. The agreements at the SOMTC and AMMTC should be implemented with a specific roadmap.

To conclude the event, Minister To Lam affirmed that the success of the 14th AMMTC contributed to promoting the cooperation among ASEAN countries in the fight against transnational crimes in both depth and breadth amid the complicated developments of the Covid-19 pandemic in the region.

Minister To Lam, Deputy Minister Le Tan Toi and delegates at the event.

At the end of the meeting, the participating ministers adopted the Joint Declaration of the 14th AMMTC. The ASEAN ministers also discussed the time and venue for the 15th AMMTC and related meetings which will be hosted by Brunei in 2021.