China, ASEAN sign MoU on cooperation in security issues ( 2004-01-11 09:21) (Xinhua)
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 challenged 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 reveiewed 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.
