Beijing, 19 August 2024 (TDI): Chinese observers on Sunday hailed the importance of a proposal made by China’s top diplomat Wang Yi, who highlighted the urgent need for intensified regional cooperation to combat the growing threat of cross-border crime, including online gambling and telecom fraud, during a recent informal meeting with foreign ministers from Myanmar, Laos and Thailand in Chiang Mai.
Experts said that Wang’s proposal embodies pragmatic cooperation in the region, with Beijing’s initiatives and leadership playing a crucial role.
During the meeting on Friday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang stressed the significance of security as a fundamental prerequisite for national development, according to the website of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Wang said the four nations have undertaken a series of collaborative operations against cross-border crime, resulting in the arrest of more than 50,000 individuals involved in gambling and fraud activities since 2023.
He called for enhanced border controls, securing national boundaries and managing major entry points to prevent illegal crossings. Wang also supported improved intelligence sharing, continuous joint operations and rapid action to arrest and repatriate criminals who have fled across borders.
A stable and lasting regional environment relies on the sustained handling of specific issues by the nations involved. Through the process of crackdown on cross-border crimes, consensus is reached, shared interests are accumulated, and a habit of cooperation is formed. This, in turn, brings a sense of community among these nations, enabling them to maintain long-term stability and sustainable development through collaborative efforts and a common community mind-set, Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, said.
Therefore, Beijing’s initiatives and leadership are not only pragmatic but also strategically oriented toward the long term goal, Li added.
The 9th Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was also held in Chiang Mai, Thailand on Friday, after which the heads of delegations from the 6 Lancang-Mekong nations issued a joint statement that emphasized on jointly combating cross-border crimes, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Cross-border crime not only damages the global image of the region and the nations involved, but also disrupts the development environment both within and beyond the region, Chinese observers noted.
Beijing’s initiative aligns with the practical needs and long-term interests of these nations, and this is why it is important for all parties to join forces in addressing this urgent problem, they said, noting that it reflects the major impact that the spillover of issues like drug trafficking and smuggling from within the region has on both the region and the world, Chinese observers added.
Addressing these problems requires global cooperation, which is why China’s proposal is timely and important, aiming to protect each country’s aspirations for stability, development and prosperit , observers said.
