Singapore, Vietnam to sign agreement targeting transnational crime

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dpa German Press Agency
Published: Sunday December 3, 2006

Singapore- Singapore and Vietnam will sign an agreement aimed at combating transnational crimes during the visit this week of Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng to Vietnam, the city-state's government said on Monday. Wong is also scheduled to meet with senior leaders during his visit from Monday through Thursday, including General Le Hong Anh, Vietnam's minister of public security.

The agreement was first proposed during former Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai's visit to Singapore in March 2004.

To be signed by the two ministers in Hanoi, the pact is drafted "to strengthen existing relations and cooperation in effective prevention and fight against crime," said a home affairs ministry statement. Wong is also minister for home affairs.

The scope of cooperation includes terrorism, illicit drug trafficking, trafficking in women and children, economic crime, money laundering, cyber crime and arms smuggling.

"Cooperation within the law enforcement units of the two countries will take the form of exchanging information" and cooperation through training, education and exchanges of experience, the statement said.

Wong will also be meeting with Singaporeans working and living in Vietnam on December 5 and 6. An estimated 3,000 Singaporeans are in the Communist-run South-East Asian country.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency