Public Security Minister holds online talks with Australian Minister of Home Affairs

Minister of Public Security General To Lam held online talks with Australian Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews on November 23. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Minister of Public Security General To Lam suggested measures to strengthen cooperation between Vietnam and Australia as well as between his ministry and Australian partners, during his online talks with Australian Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews on November 23.

He said cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and Australian law enforcement agencies has been enhanced in such spheres as crime combat, immigration management and judicial assistance.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the Australian Ministry of Home Affairs are effectively implementing commitments and agreements signed, and the minutes of the second Vietnam-Australia Vice-Ministerial Security Dialogue in December 2019, Lam said, adding that the third dialogue is scheduled to be held in Australia in 2022 when the COVID-19 pandemic is put under control.

Lam suggested the two sides continue to effectively roll out the action programme implementing the Vietnam-Australia strategic partnership for the 2020-2021 period.

Vietnam and Australia should step up cooperation across fields, including security and national defence, and work on a roadmap to advance the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, he said.

Lam also proposed information sharing and coordination in crime combat and personnel training, saying joint efforts are needed to effectively put cooperation agreements in place, notably the 2020 memorandum of understanding on police cooperation and organized crime prevention and the 2018 agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security hopes that the Australian Ministry of Home Affairs and Government members will continue to create favourable conditions for law enforcement forces of the two countries to tighten their cooperation, the minister said.

He suggested improving capacity for fighting drug, high-tech crimes, human trafficking, illegal migration, and non-traditional crimes.

For her part, Andrews also expressed her hope that the two ministries will beef up their cooperation, especially in exit-entry management, cross-border crime combat and cyber security, among others./.

VNA