Ten member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its dialogue partners, namely China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, have called for closer regional cooperation to combat terrorism and violent extremism.

National flags of ASEAN countries (Source: asiapacific.ca)

Catalino Cuy, Officer-in-Charge of the Philippine Department of the Interior and Local Government, revealed this information at a press conference in Manila on September 21 following the 11th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crimes (AMMTC) and the Special ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Rise of Radicalisation and Violent Extremism (SAMMRRVE).

The ministers acknowledged the threat of violent extremism and agreed to strengthen coordination to prevent terrorism via sharing experience, information, training, resources and building capability in the field, he said.

The official noted that the ministers also stressed the need to end the ongoing conflict in the southern Philippine city of Marawi, fearing terrorists might enter neighbouring countries.

They also expressed a strong commitment to ensuring regional peace, security and stability by adopting two documents: the Manila Declaration to Counter the Rise of Radicalisation and Violent Extremism, and the ASEAN Comprehensive Plan of Action on Counter-terrorism to deal with current challenges confronting the region.

On cybercrime, the ministers endorsed the ASEAN Declaration to Prevent and Combat Cybercrime, which includes measures such as acknowledgment of the importance of harmonisation of laws related to cybercrime and electronic evidence, and encouragement of ASEAN member states to study the feasibility of access to existing regional and international instruments in combating cybercrime.

The ministers also adopted the terms of reference of the AMMTC to facilitate regional cooperation and coordination in combating cross-border crimes in the region, including arms smuggling, drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, piracy, cybercrime, economic crimes, environmental crimes, intellectual property theft, and smuggling of cultural property.

(Source: VNA)