ASEAN issues joint declaration on cooperation in combating wanted criminals

The declaration underscores the urgent need to strengthen international cooperation in combating crimes committed by individuals who exploit the territory of one country to commit offences in another, as well as in identifying, apprehending, receiving and escorting wanted persons within the region.

Such efforts are essential to building a law-abiding ASEAN free from wanted fugitives.

It reaffirmed the strong political commitment and determination to combat criminal fugitives and called for maintaining conferences of this kind as long-term mechanisms for dialogue, coordination and enhanced regional cooperation.

The declaration also set strategic orientations for regional cooperation in fugitive criminals as an emerging non-traditional security challenge, contributing to a safe, stable and prosperous ASEAN and the effective implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

The declaration was reached within the framework of the ASEAN Law Enforcement High-level Conference on Cooperation in Combating Criminal Fugitives hosted by Viet Nam's Ministry of Public Security.

At the conference, the ASEAN Action Plan was approved, focusing on priority areas including legal matters, information sharing, capacity building and public awareness, law enforcement, cooperation with ASEAN dialogue partners, UN agencies and international organisations, as well as mutual legal assistance in criminal matters and extradition in accordance with the domestic laws of ASEAN member states and relevant international law.

Addressing the closing session, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Public Security Le Van Tuyen said the conference reviewed the fugitive situation at national and regional levels, assessed existing cooperation and identified difficulties and obstacles in joint efforts.

Delegates also discussed strategic measures to improve cooperation through ASEAN's bilateral and multilateral mechanisms./.