Vietnam pledges to strengthen international cooperation in drug prevention

On the afternoon of September 6, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang - Chairman of the National Committee for AIDS, Drug and Prostitution Prevention and Control led the Vietnamese delegation to attend the 14th Conference at the Chairman level of the National Committee for Cooperation in Drug Prevention and Control of the Mekong Sub-region, taking place in Beijing, China.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang and Deputy Minister of Public Security Nguyen Duy Ngoc (2nd and 3rd from left) at the Conference. Photo: Department of Investigation Police on Drug-related Crimes

Representing the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam were Lieutenant General Nguyen Duy Ngoc, Deputy Minister of Public Security, and representatives of professional units in the industry.

Also attending the conference were the Chairmen of the Anti-Drug Commissions of China, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar and representatives of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang assessed that over the past 30 years, the Mekong sub-regional cooperation mechanism (MOU) on drug prevention and control has achieved important results, contributing to ensuring security and order, promoting socio- economic development, eliminating hunger, reducing poverty and improving the quality of life of people in member countries.

Within the framework of the MOU signed in 1993, UNODC and member countries have jointly developed, adopted and implemented sub-regional action plans on drug prevention and control, achieving positive results in the areas of supply reduction, demand reduction, harm reduction, etc.

Vietnam has passed the 2021 Law on Drug Prevention and Control to perfect legal regulations on drug prevention and control; and to strengthen the National Committee for AIDS, Drug and Prostitution Prevention and Control to improve the effectiveness of the Committee's operations.

Vietnam has also implemented the integration of the contents of the joint cooperation plans and initiatives of the 1993 MOU cooperation mechanism into the national drug prevention and control program, in which high priority is given to implementing solutions to prevent drugs early and from afar...

The Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam supports a zero-tolerance stance on drugs and continues to pursue the long-term goal of a drug-free region...

Recently, the situation of drug production, trading, transportation and use in the region and in the world has become very complicated; illegal production, trading and transportation of drugs, especially synthetic drugs, continues to increase...

The number of drug users continues to increase and remains high worldwide, from 240 million in 2011 to 296 million in 2023, equivalent to 5.8% of the global population aged 15-64, an average increase of 23% over 10 years.

Meanwhile, treatment for drug addicts and users has not yet met the actual situation, especially treatment for synthetic drug users.

The above situation shows that crime and drug abuse are serious challenges to the rule of law and sustainable development of each country, are a danger to the community and seriously affect the physical and mental health of the people...

The Deputy Prime Minister said that member countries need to continue to demonstrate solidarity and unity in their views and stances on global drug control policies, and actively contribute their voices to the common efforts of the international community...

The Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam is determined and committed to strengthening cooperation with UNODC, Mekong sub-region countries and the world on drug prevention and control to strive for the common goal: For peace, stability, prosperous development and building a drug-free region.

The conference adopted the 12th Sub-regional Action Plan; the Beijing Joint Declaration; and China's Initiative on Addressing the Problem of Synthetic Drugs in the Mekong Sub-region.

The content of the Joint Statement focuses on assessing the drug crime situation in the sub-region; difficulties, challenges and commitments of countries in implementing drug prevention and control activities in the sub-region.

Meanwhile, the China Initiative to Address the Synthetic Drug Problem in the Greater Mekong Subregion offers concrete solutions with China's support in law enforcement, chemical control, and drug identification.

laodong.vn