Vietnam urges ASEAN to reiterate political commitment to anti-drug efforts
Vietnam has urged the ASEAN to continue reiterating political commitment at high level to anti-drug efforts at the sixth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters (AMMD), which opened in Hanoi on October 18.
At the opening ceremony of the sixth AMMD (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam has urged the ASEAN to continue reiterating political commitment at high level to anti-drug efforts at the sixth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters (AMMD), which opened in Hanoi on October 18.
“Vietnam believes that joint efforts and shared responsibility among ASEAN members will help the bloc realise the common target set in ASEAN plans,” Minister of Public Security Sen. Lieut. Gen. To Lam said at the AMMD opening.
He said the Vietnamese Government has given priority to drug prevention and fight, undertaking synchronous solutions to reduce the supply, demand and harmful effects of drugs; perfecting related legal documents; consolidating anti-drug agencies; and strictly punishing drug crimes.
Vietnam has enhanced bilateral cooperation with ASEAN member countries as well as with the bloc’s partners, especially neighbouring countries, while attaching importance to sub-regional collaboration in the combat, he said.
The country will pour more investments in the work and step up the communication work in order to raise public awareness of drug threats, the minister added.
He noted that Vietnam has seriously, fully and effectively implemented relevant agreements and commitments, towards the building and protection of a strong and united ASEAN Community against drug threats.
The country is ready to make contribution to promoting cooperation in the fight against drug, the representative of Vietnam said.
The AMMD was formed in 2012 and institutionalised in line with the ASEAN Charter in 2015, aiming to improve the efficiency of high-level cooperation in drug combat amidst complex development of drug production, trading and use in Southeast Asia and the world at large.
The sixth AMMD has created an important forum where the delegates will reach solutions to protect the ASEAN Community from drug threats and promote ASEAN’s role in issues relating to regional security and development.
Latest statistics released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime show that at least 250 million people, or five percent of the world’s population, are drug users.
In East and Southeast Asia, the number of heroin users stands at over 3 million, while more than 5 million people are using synthetic drugs. In Vietnam alone, up to some 900,000 people are related to drug use, with 225,000 monitored drug addicts.
Given this, the 6th AMMD is expected to create ASEAN’s common voice in drug matters and present their stance at the 62nd session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs slated for March 2019.-VNA
You should also see
PM visits police command centre, checks cultural centre construction in Phu Tho
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited the command and control centre of the Phu Tho police and examined the construction of this northern province’s house of culture and arts on April 18.
See more
Politics
Prime Minister pays tribute to legendary founders of Vietnam
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on April 18 attended a ceremony to offer incense to Vietnam’s forefathers Hung Kings at Hung Temple in Phu Tho province on the occasion of the Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day, which falls on the 10th day of the third lunar month every year.
Society
Overseas Vietnamese in Laos, France, Irsarel commemorate Hung Kings
The General Association of Vietnamese in Laos and the Vietnamese Association in Vientiane on April 18 held a ceremony to observe the commemorative anniversary of the Hung Kings, the legendary nation founders.
Society
Activities held nationwide to commemorate Hung Kings
Localities across Vietnam held activities in commemoration of the Hung Kings, the legendary founders of the country, on April 18 or the 10th of the third lunar month.
Videos
Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day - Vietnam’s long-held tradition
Many Vietnamese have learned by heart a “six-eight” iambic couplet verse stating that no matter how far Vietnamese people travel, they always remember the Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day. This important holiday falls on the tenth day of the third lunar month in remembrance of Vietnam’s Hung Kings.
Society
Da Nang teams up with CityNet for urban development
Leaders of the central coastal city of Da Nang on April 17 discussed cooperation measures with Jeong-kee Kim, visiting Chief Executive Officer of the Secretariat of CityNet, the regional network of local authorities for the management of human settlements.
