General To Lam, Vietnamese Minister of Public Security, at the talks. (Photo: VNA)
So said General To Lam, Vietnamese Minister of Public Security, on October 11 during online talks with Singaporean Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Smart Nation and Cybersecurity Josephine Teo.
At the talks, Minister To Lam stated that the Vietnam - Singapore strategic partnership has been continuously consolidated and developed in many fields, from politics and economy to security and defence. Along with that, the cooperation relationship between the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam and Singapore law enforcement agencies continues to be maintained and developed. The Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam and the Ministry of Home Affairs of Singapore have actively cooperated in preventing and combating transnational crime.
In particular, within the ASEAN framework, the two countries have actively participated and made joint contributions to improving the capacity of ensuring cybersecurity, preventing and combating cybercrime and high-tech crimes in the region. The two sides have actively coordinated to effectively implement the results of the AMCC-5 Conference by developing and finalizing legal documents in the field of cybersecurity; and developing an agreement between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Government of the Republic of Singapore on cybersecurity cooperation.
To further promote cybersecurity cooperation and prevention of cybersecurity crime and transnational crime, Minister To Lam proposed both sides reach consensus on ASEAN member states’ awareness and actions regarding cybersecurity, towards building common legal foundations conducive to international cooperation in the field.
“They need to work closely together to build the ASEAN Cybersecurity Centre, and establish a joint cooperation mechanism for relevant long-term and intensive training in the bloc with the support of dialogue countries such as China, Japan and the Republic of Korea,” he added.
During the talks, Singaporean Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Smart Nation and Cybersecurity Josephine Teo emphasized that the good cooperation relationship between the law enforcement agencies of Singapore and the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam over the past time has been constantly maintained and developed in all areas, thereby contributing to strengthening political trust and deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries.
She also said she believed that both sides will overcome difficulties and lay a foundation for further development in the future, towards building ASEAN with a heightened role and position in the region and the world./.