At the meeting (Photo VNA)Vientiane (VNA) – The 17thtrilateral-bilateral ministerial meeting on drug control cooperation betweenVietnam, Laos, and Cambodia took place in Vientiane on December 6.
The event creates a good chance for the three countries to review their pastcooperation and learn from the experience in the implementation of thetrilateral joint statement on drug prevention adopted at the previous meeting,as well as map out orientations and plans for the time ahead, said Lao DeputyMinister of Public Security Lt. Gn. Somvang Thammasith, who is also head of theLao steering committee for drug control, combat, and prevention.
Sn. Lt. Gn. Le Quy Vuong, Vietnam’s DeputyMinister of Public Security, suggested the three neighbouring countries holdannual meetings to exchange their viewpoints and experience in jointly addressingdrug-related issues, which are becoming increasingly complex both in the regionand the world.
He reiterated the determination of Vietnamesedrug prevention forces to work closely with Cambodian and Lao counterparts tocrack down on crime in general and drugs-related one in particular for the peace,and healthy and sustainable development of each nation.
As drug trafficking not only affects social order and security, but alsocauses great economic losses and threatens national stability, the threecountries agreed to increase collaboration and share responsibility to minimisecases of this in each society.
Participants recognised the remarkable effortsof Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia in preventing drug smuggling at border gates andstressed the importance of sharing information and conducting investigations onillegal cross-border drug trading.
The three nations agreed to focus theirendeavour on realising the post-2015 drug-free vision of the Association of theSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the goal of securing the ASEAN communityagainst illicit drugs 2016-2025.
They recommended enhancing cooperation withother nations in ASEAN and actively collaborating within the framework of the1993 Memorandum of Understanding on Drug Control in the Greater MekongSub-Region to implement the 10th sub-regional action plan (SAP 10) on drugprevention and control adopted at the MoU ministerial meeting in PhnomPenh in May 2017.
Delegates suggested giving priority to theimplementation of measures against the cross-border trade of illegal drugs andenhancing coordination in the field, while supporting the operation oftransnational drug offices and improving the capital of specialised agencies.
They agreed to raise awareness of people in thethree countries about the risks of drug abuse and strive to build a drug-freeborder residential areas and border lines of peace and friendship.
The 18th meeting is scheduled to take place inVietnam in 2019. –VNA
VNA
