Ministerial meeting aims to crack down on drug crime in Southeast Asia

A ministerial meeting on enhancing the cooperation effectiveness in combating transnational drug crime was held in Hanoi on September 10 as initiated by the Vietnam Ministry of Public Security.
Ministerial meeting aims to crack down on drug crime in Southeast Asia
Ministerial meeting aims to crack down on drug crime in Southeast Asia ảnh 1Participants at the opening ceremony (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) –
A ministerialmeeting on enhancing the cooperation effectiveness in combating transnationaldrug crime was held in Hanoi on September 10 as initiated by the VietnamMinistry of Public Security.

Nearly 200 delegates representing countries andinternational organisations of Cambodia, Laos, China, Thailand, Myanmar, thePhilippine, and Vietnam as well as the US Drug Enforcement Administration(DEA), the Australian Federal Police (AFP), and the United Nations Office onDrugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh reiteratedVietnam’s determination, goodwill, and commitment in enhancing cooperation withthe UNODC and countries in the region and the world in striving to realiseregional common goals of peace, stability, development and prosperity, andbuild a drug-free Southeast Asia.

He stressed the importance of the three UNconventions on drugs, as well as the 2009 political declaration and plan ofaction on international cooperation to counter the world drug problem, the 2014ministerial statement, and the document adopted at the UN General AssemblySpecial Session on Drugs (UNGASS) in 2016. He proposed that countries makethose documents the foundation in building and adjusting drug preventionpolicies.

The Deputy PM called on countries to be moreproactive in contributing to and sharing responsibility in mobilizing resourcesfor regional and global drug prevention initiatives.

During the meeting, participants shared updatedinformation on emerging trends in drug crime and potential threats, and discussedurgent measures and strategies to effectively crack down on cross-border drugcrime.

They also affirmed high-level commitment tocooperation and coordination of activities in fighting drug crime both insideand outside the region.

Besides the plenary session, the meeting alsoheld multilateral group discussions on key drug transport routes such asVietnam-Thailand-Laos-Myanmar; Vietnam-China-Laos; Vietnam-Thailand-Cambodia,and Vietnam-the Philippines-DEA-AFP-UNODC.-VNA
VNA

See more

Around 18,000 units of illegal items were seized during a raid on March 21. (Photo: HSA)

Singapore seizes illegal health products

Under Singapore's law, individuals found guilty of importing, manufacturing or supplying illegal health products face a two-year jail term, a 50,000 SGD fine, or both.

Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (MTI) Gan Kim Yong. (Photo: Bernama)

Johor–Singapore SEZ set to strengthen supply chains

Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong noted that escalating tensions between the US and China have led to a volley of tit-for-tat tariffs, effectively choking off trade between the world’s two largest economies. These developments will have significant implications on businesses in Singapore and Malaysia, many of which are embedded within the production and supply chains of both the US and China.

 Indonesia urges universities to uphold local identity

Indonesia urges universities to uphold local identity

The Indonesian Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) has encouraged universities to develop based on the characteristics and potential of each locality, instead of applying policies uniformly.

Illustrative image (Source: nationthailand.com)

Thailand aims to become ASEAN's clean energy hub

BoI Secretary-General Narit Therdsteerasukdi revealed that there are currently 28 electric vehicle production projects by 22 companies in Thailand, with a total investment of approximately 78 billion THB and a combined production capacity of over 880,000 units.

Illustrative image (Photo: Jakarta Post)

Indonesia discovers new gas fields, eases reliance on imported energy

Djoko Siswanto, head of SKK Migas, revealed that the two fields are located offshore in the Northwest of Java and are expected to commence operations by the end of this year. With a daily production capacity of 200 tonnes at the Jambi Merang field and 180 tonnes at the ONWJ field, these are set to enhance Indonesia's energy security and reduce its reliance on imported energy sources.

Mount Marapi erupted again on April 19 (Photo: Xinhua)

Mount Marapi in Indonesia blasts ash 1,000 metres into sky

The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) reported that the eruption, from the nearly 3,900-metre-high volcano, produced seismic activity with a maximum amplitude of 30.3 millimetres and lasted 42 seconds.

The scene of the collapsed building in Bangkok, Thailand, caused by the earthquake in Myanmar. (Photo: Kyodo/VNA)

Thailand detains four suspects over collapsed skyscraper in earthquake

The 30-storey skyscraper, intended to be used as government agencies' offices, was the only major construction project to collapse in Bangkok due to the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28. Thai authorities reported that 47 people were killed at the construction site, while 47 others remain missing.