The conference aimed to implement the 2026 Cooperation Plan between the two ministries and their leaders’ agreements on maintaining security and public order in each country, against a backdrop of increasingly complex global and regional developments and more sophisticated, unpredictable methods employed by transnational criminal networks.
The event was co-chaired by Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Long, Member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Minister of Public Security of Vietnam, and General Sar Theth, Member of the Standing Committee of the Cambodian People's Party Central Committee and Commissioner General of the Cambodian National Police under the Ministry of Interior.
Also present at the meeting were representatives of the Viet Nam Border Guard Command, leaders of police units and local departments, and officials from relevant agencies of both countries.
In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Long, on behalf of the leadership of the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security, extended a warm welcome to General Sar Theth and the Cambodian delegation attending the conference in Ho Chi Minh City.
Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Long described the conference as an important milestone for both sides to review their past cooperation and formulate more targeted and decisive strategies to effectively combat transnational crime and non-traditional security threats in the evolving security environment.
He noted that the world and the region have been experiencing profound instability and turbulence, accompanied by unprecedented challenges. Several regional and global flashpoints have escalated into serious armed conflicts, while the global economy continues to face inflationary pressures, recession risks and energy crises driven by geopolitical tensions and strategic competition among major powers.
The growing reliance on the use of force has also undermined the role of multilateral institutions, giving rise to new security risks and challenges for countries worldwide, including Viet Nam and Cambodia.
Against this backdrop, Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Long emphasized that the relationship of "good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability" between Viet Nam and Cambodia has continued to deepen, delivering tangible benefits to the peoples of the two nations.
He highlighted frequent high-level exchanges between the two countries, which have helped advance cooperation in politics, diplomacy, economics, security, defense and infrastructure connectivity, while strengthening mutual coordination and support on regional and international issues.
Cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the Cambodian Ministry of Interior, particularly between the Vietnamese People's Public Security Forces and the Cambodian National Police, has consistently been regarded as a key pillar of bilateral relations.
In recent years, law enforcement agencies of the two countries have maintained regular and timely information exchanges and close coordination to ensure security and safety during major political events and high-level visits.
Both sides have also worked to prevent hostile and reactionary elements from using the territory of one country to undermine the security and interests of the other.
Joint operations have successfully dismantled numerous transnational criminal networks, particularly those involved in online fraud and drug trafficking, resulting in the arrest of hundreds of suspects and the rescue of thousands of victims.
Such effective coordination demonstrates the determination of both countries' law enforcement agencies to deny criminals any safe haven or opportunity to exploit gaps in cross-border law enforcement.
On behalf of the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security, Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Long highly commended the outstanding achievements of law enforcement forces from the two countries.
"I firmly believe that, with solidarity, proactive engagement and strong political determination from both ministries, this conference will achieve great success and open a new chapter in cooperation against crime and drug trafficking, contributing to peace, security and happiness for the peoples of our two countries," Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Long stressed.
During the conference, representatives of relevant agencies from both countries exchanged assessments of their respective crime and drug prevention and control efforts, as well as the outcomes of bilateral cooperation.
Participants analyzed emerging methods and tactics employed by traditional and non-traditional criminal groups, assessed new crime trends and identified potential threats to security and public order in each country.
The conference also reviewed the results of the 2026 Viet Nam-Cambodia intensive campaign to raise public awareness and combat drug-related crime.
Delegates assessed cooperation between the two ministries' Joint Working Group and the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security's Permanent Task Force in Cambodia in tackling transnational crime, with a view to improving operational effectiveness in the coming period.
In his closing remarks, Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Long said that the conference had successfully achieved its objectives following intensive and constructive discussions, including a central report, two specialized topics and contributions from participating delegates.
He expressed strong agreement with the proposals put forward by General Sar Theth to further deepen and enhance practical cooperation between the two countries' police forces in combating crime and drug trafficking.
Such cooperation, he noted, would help both forces fulfill the responsibilities entrusted to them by their respective governments and peoples, while creating favorable conditions for cultural exchanges, trade and the continued development of solidarity, friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and Cambodia.
At the conference, the two sides signed the conference minutes, outlining agreed priorities and directions for future cooperation.
Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Long and General Sar Theth agreed to instruct relevant agencies to promptly translate the commitments and agreements reached at the conference into concrete and practical cooperation programs and activities.
These efforts are expected to usher in a new phase of cooperation in crime and drug prevention and control, contributing to the protection of national security, the maintenance of public order and safety, and the peaceful lives of the peoples of the two countries.
In particular, the two sides agreed to strengthen coordination among law enforcement agencies in border areas to detect and prevent transnational crimes, especially online fraud, drug trafficking, illegal border crossings facilitated by criminal networks, illegal gambling, human trafficking and forced labor.
They also committed to stepping up joint public awareness campaigns, particularly targeting residents in border communities, to promote respect for national laws, bilateral government agreements and the customs and traditions of each country.
These campaigns will also raise awareness of the harmful effects and dangers of drugs and encourage strict compliance with border management regulations, thereby contributing to building a border of peace, friendship, cooperation and development.
Both sides further agreed to maintain and strengthen existing cooperation mechanisms and effectively implement high-level commitments between the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the Cambodian Ministry of Interior, as well as the agreements reached at the first Viet Nam-Cambodia Conference on Crime and Drug Prevention and Control in 2026.
