China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on
Saturday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cooperation
in the field of non-traditional crime issues, pressing ahead their
joint efforts in combating transnational crime.
The signing of the memorandum indicated that China and ASEAN's
strong willing to improve their existing cooperation in combating
transnational crimes, which had posed great challenge to the
region's peace and development, said Tian Qiyu, Chinese executive
vice-minister of public security at a press conference Saturday
afternoon.
Tian and ASEAN's Secretary General Ong Keng Rong inked the
memorandum at a ceremony Saturday at the end of the one-day ASEAN
plus China, Japan and South Korea ministerial meeting on combating
transnational crime held in Bangkok.
The memorandum put China and ASEAN's ongoing cooperation program
and workshop on combating non-traditional crimes into words and set
down medium-and long-term goals for further cooperation in this
field, Ong told reporters after the signing ceremony.
Non-traditional crime including terrorism, money laundry, cyber
crime and international economic crime, many of which also belong
to the category of transnational crime. Drug trafficking, human
trafficking, sea piracy and arms smuggling were also covered by the
memorandum, Ong said.
Under the memorandum, China and ASEAN would improve their joint
efforts to combat non-traditional crimes through information
sharing, personnel exchange and training and law-enforcement
cooperation.
Ong said that terrorism and drug trafficking were high in the
list of topics discussed at the ASEAN plus three meeting on
combating transnational crimes, the first of its kind.
The participation by China, Japan and South Korea in the meeting
had significant meaning for the region to explore a holistic,
comprehensive and integrated approach to address the issue of
transnational crime, said Thai Justice Minister Phongthep
Thepkanjana.
Tian said that the mechanism, hailed by all parties to the
meeting, would not only benefit the establishment of a security
community in East Asia but also promote the region's economic
development.
Trying to promote the development and peace in the region, China
has worked actively with ASEAN in the field of fighting
non-traditional crimes.
In 2002, China proposed an ASEAN plus three ministerial meeting
on combating transnational crime at the sixth ASEAN plus three
summit.
In November 2002, the two sides made a joint declaration in
which the two sides were determined to strengthen their cooperation
in fighting transnational crimes.
The newly-signed MOU was actually a continuous action of the
joint declaration, said Tian.
In August 2003, the Chinese Public Security Ministry held a
seminar on law enforcement cooperation between China and ASEAN. At
the seminar held in Beijing, participants from ASEAN and China
reviewed the situation of the two sides' law enforcement
cooperation.
Affirming the achievements made in the field of fighting
non-traditional crimes, Tian noted that it is only the beginning
step of the ASEAN plus three mechanism in the security field.
(Xinhua News Agency January 11, 2004)