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| ASEAN directors-general of immigration departments and heads of consular affairs divisions hold hands at the event__Photo: VNA |
The 27th ASEAN Directors-General of Immigration Departments and Heads of Consular Affairs Divisions of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs (DGICM) officially commenced in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa on August 14, under a theme of comprehensive security and enhanced connectivity toward the future.
In his opening remarks, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Public Security Pham The Tung highlighted Vietnam's close cooperation in combating and preventing illegal migration with other member states within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and with Australia – a key partner outside the bloc.
Tung noted that Vietnam and other ASEAN countries have effectively implemented visa exemption agreements for ASEAN citizens holding ordinary, official, and diplomatic passports. While travel within the bloc has become more convenient, more work is needed to achieve unrestricted movement for people across the region.
Hosting the 27th DGICM offers Vietnam a valuable opportunity to demonstrate its proactive and responsible approach as a member, contributing to the development of a unified, cohesive, and sustainably and comprehensive growing ASEAN in the fields of immigration and consular affairs, said the official.
He stressed that ensuring comprehensive security is a central task for the bloc’s sustainable development, requiring a shift in the mindset as well as a fresh, global, and inclusive approach that takes long-term benefits into account. Member states need to unite, cooperate, and uphold the ASEAN spirit of independence, resilience, and strategic autonomy.
The official said the meeting will review and assess the implementation of initiatives from its previous edition held in Thailand last year, toward reaching a consensus on cooperative measures and mechanisms for immigration and consular affairs within the bloc.
Its three-day course features six key meetings and forums on various topics, including the management of major entry points in ASEAN, mechanisms and measures for intra-bloc immigration information exchanges, human trafficking trends and challenges in the region, and immigration and consular management experiences. Participants will also discuss cooperation programs between the bloc and Australia, and collaboration between ASEAN and the Plus Three countries of China, the Republic of Korea, and Japan.
Additionally, bilateral meetings and exchange programs are scheduled to strengthen the friendship and cooperation between member states and non-ASEAN partners.
First held in 1996 as an annual event hosted on a rotational basis, the DGICM serves as a forum for ASEAN countries to discuss shared concerns and exchange experiences in immigration and consular management. Vietnam joined the mechanism in 1997 and hosted the meeting in 2003 and 2013.- (VNA/VLLF)
