In addition to their growing cooperation in the political and
economic arenas, China and the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) are intensifying their collaborative
efforts in non-traditional security, a senior public security
official said.
Last week, the Ministry of Public Security awarded training
certificates to 10 Cambodian police officers. The event marks a new
line of attack in the battle of China and ASEAN against
transnational crime.
With the completion of their week of criminal investigation
training, the officers became the first from ASEAN countries to
take part in the China-ASEAN police-training program. The agreement
to organize a long-term program was signed in January.
"China and ASEAN member states have cooperated well in fighting
transnational crime," said Liu Zhiqiang, the ministry's foreign
affairs department director.
"The training program is expected to improve the skills of
police and enhance regional security," Liu said.
China will train 10 law enforcement officers from Laos, Myanmar
and Vietnam by the end of August. The course includes a variety of
criminal investigation techniques, such as surveillance analyses
and weapons handling.
Additional training courses will be organized for the law
enforcement departments of ASEAN members in the future, according
to the ministry.
On January 11, China and ASEAN signed a memorandum of
understanding to collaborate in fighting non-traditional crime,
which threatens the region's peace and development. The parties
agreed to improve information sharing, personnel exchange and
training.
Non-traditional crime refers to terrorism, money laundering,
cyber crime and international economic crimes.
The memo also covers drug trafficking, human trafficking, sea
piracy and arms smuggling.
(China Daily July 5, 2004)