The conference, held at the Angsana Laguna Phuket resort, began on Monday (Aug 7) and concluded today (Aug 11).
Speaking to the press at the event yesterday, Thai Immigration Deputy Commander Maj Gen Chuchat Thareechat said that efforts were discussed in raising the level of intercepting the movement of transnational crime and strengthening a healthy tourism sector were key issues discussed by the ministers, and immigration chiefs from the 11 ASEAN member countries.
Specifically, blocking the movement of transnational crimes, illegal immigration and human trafficking in the Asian region and nearby regions, were key concerns addressed, he said.
“The current border situation has changed a lot, especially the camouflage of identity used by various nationalities moving to embed in one country to inflict a target effect on another country,” Maj Gen Chuchat said.
“This is especially with cases involving crimes using technology. and financial cases. Therefore, cooperation among consular and immigration agencies must be tightened. In terms of technology and law, to create a mechanism for flexible joint practice,” he said.
As such, the theme of the meeting was ‘Building Security, Fostering Collaboration and Sustaining the Future’, Maj Gen Chucchat noted.
Among the related meetings held as part of the conference was the 18th ASEAN Directors-General of Immigration Departments and Heads of Consular Affairs Divisions of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs Meeting Plus Australia Consultation”, or simply the “18th DGICM + Australia Consultation”.
Three dialogue partner countries, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, also attended the meeting, said an official report of the event.
“There was a discussion that included China on how to solve the problems of Chinese grey investors to reduce and suppress all transnational crime groups and to elevate sustainable tourism,” the report said.
“It is expected that the number of tourists from China will increase by 15%,” the report noted.
More than 500 attendees attended the five-day event, which included a gala dinner.
With Thailand the host country for the talks this year, the Royal Thai Police chose Phuket as the host location for the meetings to help stimulate tourism after the COVID-19 crisis, the official report noted.
Thailand previously hosted the conference in 2002 and 2012. The 25th edition of the conference was held in Singapore in August last year.