KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and China have agreed to continue strengthening cooperation in combating terrorism, telecommunications fraud, cross-border illegal gambling, anti-drug efforts, network security, and police capacity building.
The matter was agreed upon during the 5th Joint Working Group Meeting on Cooperation in Preventing and Combating Transnational Crime held in Beijing on Thursday, attended by Malaysian authorities and their Chinese counterparts.
The meeting, co-chaired by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong, produced four high-impact outcomes, including the extension of the Agreement on Cooperation in Combating Transnational Crime between Malaysia and China, which is effective until 2034.
"This agreement is a master document that outlines more than 15 areas of cooperation between both countries, such as the prevention of terrorist and extremist activities, illegal gambling, cybercrime, human and contraband trafficking, and environmental crimes," Saifuddin in a statement said.
Saifuddin said both countries, during the meeting, also agreed to explore and lead cooperation between ASEAN, China, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in security, economy, and social issues, in alignment with the three main pillars of Asean.
"Both countries have expressed mutual understanding to explore the proposed National Security Framework, expected to provide benefits not only to both nations but also to regional and global stakeholders.
"It was also agreed that there is a need for both countries to expedite the finalization of several new agreements and cooperation documents, particularly in matters of immigration and extradition," the statement said.
According to Xinhua News Agency, Wang said China will work with Malaysia to strengthen high-level exchanges and deepen practical cooperation on law enforcement and security under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries.
He added that it is hoped that the both countries will continue to strengthen cooperation in anti-terrorism, combating telecommunications fraud and cross-border illegal gambling, anti-drug work, network security and police capacity building.
Wang also said China looks forward to promoting the building of a China-Malaysia community with a shared future.