An ASEAN flag (Source: ASEAN SAS) Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - ASEAN Directors-General of Immigration Departments and Heads of Consular Affairs Divisions of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs (DGICM) convened their 22nd meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on August 6.
About 100 senior immigration officers from 10 ASEAN member countries are joining the DGICM meeting, themed ‘Sovereignty and Security is Our Mission’. The four-day event aims at discussing solutions to immigration issues in the region and in border management.
Ahead of the meeting, Director-General of the Malaysian Immigration Department Mustafar Ali told Bernama news agency that ASEAN member countries can learn from Australia’s experience on addressing immigration issues in the region.
He noted that there would be a session for Australia, a strategic partner of ASEAN, to share its experiences on capacity building in the field during the DGICM meeting.
He said Australia has advanced technologies in the field as well as in training and capacity building, which he hoped the country would share them with ASEAN.
In addition to Australia, countries like Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines were also welcomed to share views on modern immigration management technology as well as their experiences in addressing human trafficking, the official said.
Mustafar said ASEAN member states need more bilateral and multilateral cooperation in tackling immigration issues like the way the existing network of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Police (ASEANAPOL) is doing in combating trans-border crimes.-VNA
VNA
