ASEAN member states and China will further boost their joint efforts through bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms to tackle transnational crime.
Transnational crime includes drugs and human trafficking which are increasing in scale as reflected by the large number of young people that fall victim to these crimes.
Vice President of the National Assembly, Dr Bounpone Bouttanavong, highlighted this point during his opening remarks at the 10th ASEAN-China Prosecutors-General Conference, held in Vientiane yesterday under the theme: Strengthening Cooperation to Effectively Combat Transnational Crime.
To address these issues, we need to increase our combined efforts, including ensuring effective coordination, the capacity building of prosecutors, and expertise exchange, he said.
The world is currently undergoing rapid changes that present both opportunities and challenges. Moreover, different regions of the world are facing challenges that impede socio-economic development, especially transnational crime, he added.
Dr Bounpone said that although the Lao government has made a strong effort to address these issues, including through the adoption of laws and strict measures, the country was still facing challenges in this area.
Such activities have caused great loss of life and property and are posing a threat to the peace, stability and security of nations, regions and the world as a whole.
These crimes are transnational in nature and involve many countries, and they are a pressing issue that no single country can handle on its own.
We should exchange information on the activities of offenders or groups of criminals with the aim of responding to and combating these crimes in an effective and timely manner, Dr Bounpone said.
Dr Bounpone noted that the conference was taking place at a time when ASEAN is focusing its efforts on the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the three community Blueprints as well as the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan III and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025.
He said the cooperation between the offices of the prosecutors general of ASEAN member states and China would contribute to the implementation of related activities under the ASEAN-China Plan of Action.
The conference provides a good opportunity for ASEAN prosecutors general and China to discuss and together find ways and means to combat transnational crime, in particular drugs and human trafficking, he added.
Dr Bounpone stressed that with the cooperation and support of ASEAN member countries and China, the conference would meet with success, thereby significantly contributing to the ongoing ASEAN community building efforts and ASEAN-China relations as well as the common cause of maintaining and promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world.
Dr Bounpone said he highly valued the important role played by the conference, which was first held in 2004. He congratulated participants on the achievements made in past years in the fight against transnational crimes of mutual concern, further contributing to cooperation between ASEAN and China as Strategic Partners towards a higher plane.
Source: Vientiane Times
