In addition to their growing cooperation in the political and economic arenas, China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are intensifying their collaborative efforts in non-traditional security, a senior public security official said.

Last week, the Ministry of Public Security awarded training certificates to 10 Cambodian police officers. The event marks a new line of attack in the battle of China and ASEAN against transnational crime.

With the completion of their week of criminal investigation training, the officers became the first from ASEAN countries to take part in the China-ASEAN police-training program. The agreement to organize a long-term program was signed in January.

"China and ASEAN member states have cooperated well in fighting transnational crime," said Liu Zhiqiang, the ministry's foreign affairs department director.

"The training program is expected to improve the skills of police and enhance regional security," Liu said.

China will train 10 law enforcement officers from Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam by the end of August. The course includes a variety of criminal investigation techniques, such as surveillance analyses and weapons handling.

Additional training courses will be organized for the law enforcement departments of ASEAN members in the future, according to the ministry.

On January 11, China and ASEAN signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate in fighting non-traditional crime, which threatens the region's peace and development. The parties agreed to improve information sharing, personnel exchange and training.

Non-traditional crime refers to terrorism, money laundering, cyber crime and international economic crimes.

The memo also covers drug trafficking, human trafficking, sea piracy and arms smuggling.

(China Daily July 5, 2004)