Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Minister of Public Security General Luong Tam Quang led a Vietnamese delegation to the 19th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC), which officially kicked off in Melaka, Malaysia, on September 9.
The meeting brought together Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn, and around 300 ministers and senior security officials from regional countries.
In addition to ASEAN member states, the meeting is also attended by representatives from China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea – the dialogue partners of the bloc. According to Malaysian Minister of Home Affairs Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, this is crucial as addressing transnational crime is not only the responsibility of the ASEAN member countries but also requires support from partner nations.
The meeting reaffirms ASEAN member states’ commitment to strengthening intra-bloc cooperation in addressing common security challenges, and marks a significant turning point as the ASEAN Plan of Action in Combating Transnational Crime (2016–2025) will expire at the end of this year. It is expected to pave the way for adopting a new and more ambitious action plan for the 2026–2035 period to further exert regional efforts in combating crime.
The event from September 8 to 12 is set to introduce key and broad regional cooperation initiatives. Notably, it aims to finalise and adopt the ASEAN Plan of Action in Combating Transnational Crime for 2026–2035. A working group on anti-money laundering is expected to be set up to enhance efforts against financial crime. Ministers will also endorse several important declarations, including the ASEAN Border Management Cooperation Roadmap and the Melaka Declaration on Combating Transnational Crime.
It also serves as a forum to reinforce political support for the accession to ASEAN by Timor Leste, which is working to finalise legal measures related to the ASEAN Convention on Counter-Terrorism (ACCT) and the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons (ACTIP), as this country looks to become a full member at the 47th ASEAN Summit next month.
The 19th AMMTC is not only a platform for sharing experience and addressing key issues but also a strong demonstration of the ASEAN member states’ commitment to building a safer, more peaceful, and more prosperous ASEAN Community./.
