On Dec.14th, 2007, IMM2/SOM5 of COMMIT was successfully concluded in Beijing, which was hosted by the MPS, and co-organized by the office of National Working Committee for Children and Women under the State Council, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Commerce. Nearly 200 delegates attended the meeting, including ministers on anti-trafficking from six countries in the Sub-region (Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam), officials from ten embassies of ASEAN residing in China, relevant international organizations, NGOs, donor countries and related Chinese ministries on anti-trafficking human.

Chinese government paid high attention to this meeting. The Minister of MPS, Mr. Meng Jianzhu delivered a key speech at the IMM opening ceremony, stating that Chinese government and public security organ of China would continue to strengthen cooperation against trafficking with the other five Sub-region countries, further promote the process of coordinated anti-trafficking in GMS, jointly face to the new challenge. Vice Chairperson of NWCCW of China, Vice President and First Secretariat of the All-China Women’s Federation, Mme. Huang Qingyi attended IMM opening ceremony and delivered speech. The UN Resident Coordinator of China, Mr. Khalid Malik also addressed a report at this meeting.

The meeting discussed the progress reports on the first SPA and reviewed the achievements gained since the first Inter-Ministerial Meeting held in 2004 in Yangon ,Myanmar from the implementation of the COMMIT Memorandum of Understanding and the first SPA. Country reports on the progress of the first SPA were reviewed and the second SPA were discussed and adopted.

The meeting participants believe that the Commit Process has achieved notable results in recent years with the focused attention of the six GMM countries and active assistance and support from the COMMIT Secretariat, relevant international organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations. The direction of development and key field of regional cooperation against trafficking are designed thoroughly in the new Plan of Action. The new Plan of Action also plays an important role in the promotion of cooperation against trafficking in six countries.

This morning, all six ministers signed Joint Declaration on the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking together at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. As a document of vital importance for this meeting, the Joint Declaration reiterates the spirit of the COMMIT MOU and emphasizes the fulfillment of commitments, the strengthening of multi-sectors cooperating and the promotion of international collaboration following the principles and guidelines of the relevant UN documents signed by the 6 GMS countries. It reiterates and fully expresses the determination and confidence of the six governments to promote cooperation and join hands against trafficking. Its significance is enormous and its impact is profound. It certainly will exert important influence on the progress of the COMMIT Process.

Relevant background

Some related organizations of UN headed by the UN Department of Development Project set up UNIAP in 1998. The Project is attended by Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. The aim of the Project is to eliminate the crime of trafficking in persons in GMS, strengthen the cooperation among countries and regions in order to improve the capacity of anti-trafficking. The Project has project offices in six countries, the headquarter is located in Bangkok, Thailand. In October, 2004, the first IMM was held in Yangon, Myanmar, during which the MOU of COMMIT was signed.

(China.org.cn December 14, 2007)