The 32nd Conference of the ASEAN Chiefs of Police (ASEANAPOL) is underway in the Myanmar capital city of Nay Pyi Taw to discuss joint operations against regional crime, the country’s official media said on May 23.

The Myanmar Minister of Home Affairs delivered a speech to open the three-day conference, which is expected to produce a joint declaration on the last day of May 25.

The meeting was chaired by Myanmar Police Chief Major- General Kyaw Kyaw Tun, who took over the ASEANAPOL chairmanship from his Lao counterpart Cesar Bat Malabon.

Participants included representatives from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, host Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam as well as from dialogue partner countries – Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea, and also from Interpol Secretariat, ASEAN Secretariat and ASEAN Police Force Secretarial Office.

The previous, 31st ASEANAPOL conference was held in Vientiane , Laos in May-June 2011.

The first formal meeting of ASEANAPOL took place in Manila , Philippines in 1981 with the participation of Indonesia , Malaysia , the Philippines , Singapore and Thailand.-VNA