Vietnamese Minister of Public Security General Tô Lâm (right) and his Chinese counterpart Zhao Kezhi sign MoUs at the meeting. – VNA/VNS Photo Doãn Tấn

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam and China agreed to work more closely together to combat transnational crime at a working session between top security officials.

The ministries of public security of the two countries convened their seventh meeting on crime prevention in Hà Nội on Friday under the co-chair of Vietnamese Minister of Public Security General Tô Lâm and his Chinese counterpart Zhao Kezhi.

The meeting was an important event in bilateral ties to promote the comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership between the two countries in the field of national security, crime prevention and combat and protection of social order and safety.

It was also a chance for both sides to evaluate the outcomes of co-operative agreements between the two ministries since the previous meeting in Beijing in October 2018 and sketch out measures to promote co-operation.

Over the past two years, based on the comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership between the two parties and states, the partnership between the two public security ministries has been reinforced in many aspects such as the exchange of delegation and professional information and personnel training.

The two sides have co-ordinated closely in combating all types of crime, especially drug-related, high-tech and economic crimes, and worked together in seizing wanted criminals, managing entries and exits, contributing to ensuring political security as well as social order and safety in each country, especially along the border.

Specifically, agencies of both sides have co-operated in cracking down on drug-related crimes near the border.

Since 2018, the two sides have conducted four raids involving drug-related crimes, while completing co-ordination mechanisms for the joint investigation of drug-related cases.

Việt Nam’s Ministry of Public Security has assisted the Chinese side in identifying many high-technology crimes involving Chinese nationals operating in Việt Nam, as well as in arresting and handing over the criminals to the Chinese side.

Vietnamese and Chinese authorities have also collaborated in combating human trafficking cases, especially the trafficking of Vietnamese women to China, and rescued many Vietnamese victims.

During this meeting, the two ministers agreed on measures to improve collaboration efficiency in protecting domestic security in each country and the efficiency of co-operation in crime prevention and control, focusing on holding crackdowns on trans-national crimes such as terrorism, high-tech, human trafficking and drug-related crimes.

The eighth meeting will be held in China in 2022.

Functional units of the two ministries signed three memorandums of understanding on co-operation in fighting high-tech crime, crime related to telecommunications and Internet networks, and management of migrants and enter-exit activities.

Meeting with Vietnamese PM

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (right) had talks with Chinese Minister of Public Security Zhao Kezhi on Friday in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

Also on Friday, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc hosted a reception for the visiting Chinese Minister of Public Security Zhao Kezhi.

The Vietnamese Government leader proposed the Ministry of Public Security of China create favourable conditions for the development of bilateral economic and trade relations, and the maintenance of shared borders, looking towards peace, friendship, stability and growth.

Phúc stated that the Vietnamese Party, Government and people always attach importance to maintaining and developing friendly relations with the Chinese Party, Government and people. Việt Nam “considers this as a consistent policy, a strategic choice and a top priority in the country’s foreign policy," he said.

PM Phúc welcomed Minister Kezhi's work with Vietnamese Minister Lâm, saying he highly appreciated the positive co-operation outcomes between the two countries' police forces in crime prevention and fighting, as well as maintaining security.

He proposed the two sides continue to implement signed agreements, strengthen co-operation in combating drug crimes, human trafficking, high-tech crimes, illegal immigration and apprehending wanted criminals.

Minister Kezhi congratulated Việt Nam for the successful organisation of the 13th National Party Congress and expressed his pleasure to visit Việt Nam for the first time since he took over the new position.

Kezhi highlighted that Việt Nam and China are important strategic partners. Since COVID-19 broke out, the two countries have helped each other overcome the adverse impacts of the pandemic and deepened relations in all fields. This represents a strong foundation for both sides to develop relations in the new era.

He hoped the two sides would strengthen economic, trade and investment co-operation based on their advantages, as well as ensure supply chains, and bring practical benefits to the people of the two countries.

Total trade turnover between the two sides reached US$133 billion last year. Việt Nam surpassed Germany to become the sixth-largest trading partner of China.

China has had so far more than 3,200 foreign direct investment projects with a capital of $19 billion in Việt Nam, ranking seventh out of 142 countries and territories investing in Việt Nam.

PM Phúc thanked China for supporting Việt Nam's proposals and initiatives at high-level meetings in Việt Nam’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2020.

He believed that the Chinese people, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and Party General Secretary Xi Jinping, will achieve many successes.

2021 is a year of great significance for both countries. Việt Nam began to implement the Resolution of the 13th Party Congress and China began to implement its 14th five-year plan, he said.

In the current complex international situation and for the benefit in all aspects of both parties and the two countries, “Việt Nam really wants peace and stability in the region,” he said.

The Communist Party of Việt Nam has the responsibility to ensure the legitimate interests of Việt Nam, at the same time support China’s efforts to make a positive contribution to regional and global peace, co-operation and development, PM Phúc said. — VNS