Jakarta (ANTARA) - The foreign ministers of ASEAN member states have\nvoiced concern over escalating tensions in the Middle East and the\ngrowing threat of cross-border online scam crimes.<\/p>\n
They also called for stronger regional cooperation, as conveyed by\nASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn on Tuesday (28 July).<\/p>\n
In his address at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Kao said the\nforeign ministers had held an open discussion on geopolitical\ncompetition, regional security and developments in the Middle East\nsituation during their annual meeting in Manila.<\/p>\n
The ministers also issued a joint statement calling for dialogue,\nexpressing concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and\nreaffirming the need to protect civilians in accordance with\ninternational law.<\/p>\n
Kao added that the ministers also agreed to strengthen coordination\nthrough ASEAN-led security mechanisms to mitigate the impact of the\nMiddle East conflict on Southeast Asia, particularly on energy and food\nresilience, supply chains, and the safety of ASEAN nationals in the\nregion.<\/p>\n
The foreign ministers also identified online scams and cross-border\norganised crime as urgent regional challenges. They warned that\nincreasingly sophisticated criminal networks have fuelled a surge in\nhuman trafficking, money laundering and cross-border abuse of digital\ntechnology.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an issue that currently affects us all, and there is a need\nto strengthen regional cooperation, both within ASEAN and between ASEAN\nand its external partners,\u201d Kao said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asean-voices-concern-over-middle-east-situation-and-online-scam-crimes-1785282773", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }