China, ASEAN issue declaration on security cooperation

China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) issued a joint declaration on law enforcement cooperation on Friday.

The declaration came during a ministerial meeting in Beijing on regional security and common development.

According to the declaration, dialogue mechanisms will be established with other countries and international organizations welcomed to join.

The China-ASEAN inter-ministerial meeting on law enforcement and security will now be held every two years.

China's Public Security Minister Guo Shengkun addressed a parallel meeting on security cooperation along the Mekong River on Saturday, attended by police chiefs from Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. The "Belt and Road Initiative" presents new opportunities for law enforcement cooperation, said Guo.

A joint statement on law enforcement cooperation along the Mekong River was adopted at the meeting, inviting Cambodia and Vietnam to be observer states in the mechanism. Endite