China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand to jointly combat cross-border crime

China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand discussed cross-border crime during an informal meeting between the foreign ministers of China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand in Chiang Mai, Thailand on Friday.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that security is the prerequisite and foundation for the development of all countries. At present, he said, the security situation in the region is undergoing complex changes, and cross-border crimes such as online gambling and telecom fraud have persisted, endangering the safety of people’s lives and property and damaging social stability and national image.

Only if countries in the region step up their collective efforts to combat these crimes can the high number of criminal offenses be effectively reduced, Wang said.

He said China’s proposed Global Security Initiative has received positive responses from countries such as Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. Based on mutual respect for sovereignty, the four countries have jointly carried out a series of activities to combat cross-border crimes and have arrested more than 50,000 people involved in gambling and fraud since last year, Wang added.

China takes the Global Security Initiative as a guideline and is willing to work with other countries to tackle cross-border crime and ensure peace at home.

He called for tightening the border control network, guarding each country’s borders, controlling key ports and completely blocking illegal border crossings for malicious people.

Wang also urged that intelligence and information exchanges should proceed smoothly and that joint operations should be continued to repatriate lawless individuals who have fled across the border and bring them to justice in a timely manner.

The Foreign Minister called for a ministerial meeting on law enforcement and security cooperation in the Lancang-Mekong region to be held as soon as possible, to promote the operation of “the security of the Lancang-Mekong region” and to mobilize resources from all parties.

He also urged the integration of human resources, intelligence, technology and equipment, the coordination of joint operations among the four countries, and the overall improvement of the efficiency of transnational cooperation.

Countries should deepen exchanges and cooperation in legal and judicial matters, organise and provide coordinated training in the field of justice and law enforcement, and enhance their capacity in the field of counter-terrorism and governance, he added.

The foreign ministers of the four countries agreed to strengthen cooperation and coordination and intensify efforts in the fight against cross-border crimes such as online gambling and telecom fraud, drug trafficking and human trafficking, in order to jointly ensure peace and tranquility in the region.

(Cover: Informal discussion between foreign ministers of China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand in Chiang Mai, Thailand, August 16, 2024. /Xinhua)