ASEAN Plus Three ink crime pact

ASEAN Plus Three ink crime pact

THAILAND: Government ministers from China, Japan, South Korea and the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed on Saturday to strengthen security ties to counter the growing threats of transnational crime and terrorism.

A joint communique issued at the conclusion of the First ASEAN Plus Three Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime in Bangkok reaffirmed the Asian nations' determination to strengthen cooperation in "non-traditional security issues", especially those related to terrorism.

While stopping short of establishing a formal military alliance, the East Asian leaders called for further strengthening of security ties as outlined at a meeting in Bali, Indonesia, last October, while working toward an "ASEAN Security Community".

"We reaffirm our intention to dedicate our efforts, through AMMTC plus 3, to fight against transnational crime, especially terrorism as well as to support the building of the ASEAN Security Community as stated by our leaders during the Sixth and Seventh ASEAN Plus Three Summits," the communique said.

Ministers from the 13 countries agreed to address the "root causes" of transnational crime, including poverty and development gaps. -- DPA