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The Institute of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently hosted an international seminar titled "Upgrading Partnerships to Jointly Address Transnational Crime, Aiming to Build a Safe, Stable, and Prosperous Community with a Shared Future." The event was organized as part of a project supported by the Mekong-Lancang Special Fund.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Maithong Thammavongsa and attended by representatives from research institutions and think tanks across the Mekong region, including Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as relevant stakeholders from central and local government agencies.
The seminar served as a platform for participants to exchange perspectives on the growing threat of transnational crime, with particular emphasis on online fraud and cyber scams. Participants observed that such crimes have emerged as a significant challenge throughout the Mekong region, posing serious risks to national security, economic stability, and public welfare.
In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister Maithong highlighted the increasingly complex and evolving nature of transnational crime. He emphasized the importance of strengthening regional cooperation in four priority areas: developing robust legal frameworks and cross-border information-sharing mechanisms; enhancing technical capabilities and human resource development; promoting public awareness and digital literacy; and fostering comprehensive, multi-sector collaboration.
He further stressed that combating transnational crime is a collective responsibility and a critical component of safeguarding regional security, stability, and sustainable prosperity.
During the seminar, participants agreed that online fraud and cyber-enabled scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and pervasive, driven in part by rapid technological advancements, including the expanding application of artificial intelligence. These developments, they noted, have made detection, monitoring, and enforcement efforts more complex and demanding.
Participants underscored the need for coordinated action among governments, the private sector, and civil society across the region. They called for enhanced cooperation to prevent, combat, and respond effectively to transnational crime, while mitigating its adverse effects on security, economic systems, and the livelihoods of communities throughout the Mekong region.
KPL
