(VOVworld) - Viet Nam has affirmed it will work closely with other regional countries in dealing with the "irregular movement of persons in Southeast Asia." It has also reiterated its determination to fight human trafficking and illegal immigration.

ASEAN Ministers attended the Emergency ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (Photo: VNA)

Addressing the Emergency ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (EAMMTC) in Malaysia on Thursday, Deputy Minister of Public Security To Lam said the irregular movement of persons in the region has become a complicated problem that threatens to become a crisis. He said such movement affects political stability and could have a negative impact on the plan to establish an ASEAN Community by the end of this year. Viet Nam would like to find a thorough, quick solution to the problem so as to avoid sensitive problems arising between countries in the region. He added that all countries in the region should join hands in carrying out emergency measures, enhance search and rescue missions, information sharing, and support for countries engaged in providing relief.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the 10 ASEAN countries, the ASEAN Secretariat, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the International Organization for Migration, and the US State Department.