Ministers of ASEAN countries attend the 13th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC-13) and relevant meetings, which kicked off in Bangkok, Thailand, on Wednesday. — VNA/VNS Photo Ngọc Quang/Hữu Kiên

BANGKOK — Minister of Public Security General Tô Lâm led a Vietnamese delegation to the 13th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC-13) and relevant meetings, which kicked off in Bangkok, Thailand, on Wednesday.

Speaking at the plenary session of AMMTC-13, General Lâm briefed participants on the results of transnational crime combat in Việt Nam since the AMMTC-12, while emphasising Việt Nam’s commitment to actively and responsibly participate in ASEAN’s cooperation frameworks in general and cooperation mechanisms in combating transnational crime in particular in the context that the country will undertake the ASEAN Chairmanship and role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2020.

He suggested ASEAN member nations support Việt Nam’s initiative to list antiques smuggling combat as a priority of cooperation under the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) and AMMTC.

Law enforcement agencies of ASEAN member states should continue to maintain and strengthen cooperation in the fight against transnational crime, enhance the sharing of experiences in fighting drug crime and joint investigations, and pay attention to improving the capacity of law enforcement staff, Lâm said.

He also called for regional coordination in effectively implementing criminal judicial assistance requests among ASEAN countries and their partners, with priority given to negotiations to soon sign agreements on extradition and transfer of sentenced persons, and legal assistance in criminal matters.

Participants at the event acknowledged and highly valued efforts made by regional countries in fighting transnational crime, especially in implementing agreements signed at AMMTC-12 in Myanmar, and the ASEAN Plan of Action to Combat Transnational Crime in 2016-2025.

The meeting issued a joint statement, in which the ministers welcome Việt Nam to host AMMTC-14 and related meetings in 2020, and praise efforts by the SOMTC working group on counter terrorism in the fight against violent extremism and radicalisation.

The ASEAN ministers are scheduled to have meetings with senior officials in charge of issues related to transnational crime from ASEAN’s dialogue countries on November 28. — VNS