New Delhi (VNA) –The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India held their 9th Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crimes (SOMTC) in a virtual form on July 20, accordingto the Indian Foreign Ministry.
The meeting was co-chaired by the Joint Secretary (Counter Terrorism) of the IndianMinistry of External Affairs, Mahaveer Singhvi, and ASEAN representative - DeputySecretary (Policy) under the Singaporean Ministry of Home Affairs, Puah KokKeong.
During the meeting, the twosides strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Theyemphasized the need to strengthen international cooperation to combat terrorismand transnational crimes in a comprehensive and sustained manner.
They also discussed ways to enhance cooperation inthe areas of terrorism, illicit drug trafficking, trafficking in persons,international economic crime and cyber crime under the framework of ASEAN-IndiaWork Plan to combat Transnational Crimes. Institutional linkages and capacitybuilding programmes between the two sides were also tabled for consideration.
The sides agreed to hold the 10th ASEAN-India SOMTC inIndonesia in 2023./.
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