Vietnam urges joint international efforts to combat cybercrime

A high-ranking delegation led by Minister of Public Security General To Lam attended the 18th meeting of heads of special services, security agencies and law enforcement organisations, which is underway in Russia’s Sochi city on October 16-17 at the invitation of General Aleksandr Bortnikov Director of Russia's Federal Security Service.

In his speech, Minister To Lam said Vietnam is one of the countries that have seen the fastest internet growth in the world, and the Vietnamese Government is working hard to speed up the building of an e-government system towards a digital government and economy.

Despite achieving positive outcomes in this regard, Vietnam’s cyberspace is facing numerous risks and challenges that have directly affected national security as well as social order and safety, Lam noted.

He called on countries to reach a consensus on behaviours in cyberspace under the forms of international protocols, conventions and treaties.

Vietnam wishes to continue learning from international friends' experience and stays ready to cooperate, share experience with law enforcement agencies, and international organizations in this field, Lam said.

The minister also suggested further diversifying relations with partners, building up global consensus, enhancing the sharing of information, setting up working groups in cyberspace, and improving the capacity for ensuring cyber security and combating cyber-crime.

Lam voiced his hope that the meeting will add fresh impetus to cooperation between law enforcement agencies in order to effectively fight crime, including cyber-crime, thereby contributing to global and regional stability and security.

In his opening speech, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called for combined efforts in preventing the use of internet and social networks to serve terrorist and extremist purposes.

Russia supports all kinds of constructive and equal cooperation with all foreign partners in counterterrorism on the basis of the UN Charter, he emphasized.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Lam also met with leaders of international organizations and security services of Russia and foreign partners.

The event draw the participation of nearly 400 delegates from 79 countries and five international organizations, namely the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean and the Commonwealth of Independent States (SNG).