Labuan Bajo, E Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) - National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo said the 17th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, will encourage cooperation among ASEAN member countries to prevent and eradicate transnational crimes.

"The 17th AMMTC aims to facilitate and encourage cooperation and coordination among ASEAN countries in preventing and eradicating transnational crimes," Prabowo stated here on Thursday.

The National Police (Polri) will hold the 17th AMMTC in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, on August 20-23, 2023.

The issues of transnational crimes that will be discussed include terrorism, human trafficking, cybercrime, arms smuggling, illegal trade of wildlife and timber, drug trafficking, money laundering, international economic crimes, piracy, and people smuggling.

The 17th AMMTC will be attended by 10 ASEAN ministers, delegates from three dialogue partners, namely China, Japan, and South Korea, while Timor-Leste will attend as an observer.

Chair of the ASEAN Directors-General of Immigration Departments and Heads of Consular Affairs Divisions of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs (DGICM) and the ASEAN Secretary-General will also participate in the dialogue.

The number of participants in the 17th AMMTC totals 275 people.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will open the forum, while Polri Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo will lead the forum.

Prabowo explained that the meeting also aims to strengthen the exchange of information on transnational crime issues with relevant ASEAN sectoral bodies and enhance cooperation with ASEAN dialogue partners.

At the end of the plenary meeting, Indonesia will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with six other ASEAN countries: Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The MoU aims to intensify bilateral police cooperation in combating transnational crimes.

The 17th AMMTC summit will be marked by the delivery of a joint statement as the conclusion of the previous meetings and a declaration as a statement of commitment.

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Translator: Fransiska N, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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