The seventh meeting of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Fact-Finding Committee (AIFOCOM) to Combat the Drug Menace opened in Ho Chi Minh City on April 23.

Addressing the function, Vietnam’s Vice National Assembly Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong said she hoped that AIPA members would complete their legal system and policies and propose measures to increase the efficiency of AIFOCOM’s activities in the interest of creating a drug-free ASEAN.

In recent years, thanks to synchronous measures, national efforts and assistance from international organisations, Vietnam has made important achievements in drug prevention and control, she said.

However, drug crimes are developing in a more complicated fashion, requiring suitable measures, especially rehabilitation for drug addicts and job-placement for those in recovery, to give them a chance to re-integrate into the community, Phong added.

Acting Manager of the UN Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC)-Vietnam Jason Eligh stressed that the drug menace is very complicated, especially in East Asia and Southeast Asia, which have fast-growing economies but also the world’s largest opium producers. In this context, he suggested ASEAN countries expand cooperation and increase experience sharing.

AIFOCOM-7, a forum for information exchange and experience sharing on the fight against illegal drugs among AIPA countries, attracted delegations from nine members, namely Brunei  Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, with Myanmar attending as special observer./.