The 32nd conference of ASEAN Police Chiefs (ASEANAPOL) held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, ended on May 24 with a joint statement being released.

According to the press release, the three-day event was chaired by Myanmar’s Chief of Police Major-General Kyaw Kyaw Tun, who took over the chair from his Laotian counterpart Cesar Bat Malabon.

This year's conference was attended by delegates from all ten ASEAN member countries as well as representatives from five partner countries, including China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand and Australia.

The conference discussed joint working to combat trans-national crimes, including terrorism, arms smuggling, human trafficking, maritime fraud, economic and banking offenses and cyber crime.

The participants debated the progress made on an ASEANAPOL database and more cooperation in criminal matters. They also discussed how to put in place various operational measures and agreed on proposals to increase cooperation to combat crime.

The first ASEANAPOL conference took place in Manila in the Philippines in 1981 with only the five original member countries taking part including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Source: VNA