Vietnam has affirmed to closely coordinate with regional countries in dealing with the “irregular migration of persons in the Southeast Asia”, as well as fighting human trafficking and illegal immigration, said Deputy Minister of Public Security To Lam at the Emergency ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime on July 2 in Malaysia.
The irregular migration of persons in the region has become a complicated problem that threatens to become a crisis, affect political stability and negatively impact the plan to establish an ASEAN Economic Community by the end of this year, Lam said.
Vietnam would like to have a thorough, rapid solution to the problem so as to avoid sensitive problems arising between regional countries, he said.
He added that all countries in the region should join hands in carrying out emergency measures, enhancing search and rescue missions, sharing information and supporting countries engaged in relief provision.
Chairman of the meeting, Malaysian Minister of Home Affairs, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, stressed the importance of taking full advantage of the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters to ensure that ASEAN countries have adequate tools to prosecute offenders and bring them to justice.
He emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN dialogue partners and international organizations to combat human trafficking and illegal immigration, support the establishment of funds to provide humanitarian assistance, and address challenges posed by the irregular migration within the region.-
