Officials in charge of drug control work and diplomats from the
ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) members agreed to deepen regional
cooperation on drug control at a seminar which concluded on
Friday.
The officials and diplomats from 23 ARF members exchanged views
on the work, policies and experiences on drug control and stressed
the public participation in drug control at the three-day seminar
held in Xi'an, the capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.
Attendees to the seminar agreed that the region was faced with a
severe challenge of drug production and drug trafficking, which has
posed a threat to regional security, stability and economic
development. They stressed that all the ARF members should
encourage their social forces to publicize drug control and guide
the public to participate in the prevention and crackdown on drug
crimes.
The seminar appealed the ARF members to strengthen regional
cooperation and exchange of information and experiences in drug
control.
The seminar was held according to the agreement of the 14th
foreign ministers' meeting of ARF in Manila of the Philippines in
August.
Founded in 1994 and with 27 members, the ARF has become the main
channel for official multilateral dialogue and cooperation in the
Asia-Pacific region.
(Xinhua News Agency September 22, 2007)