PRIME Minister Hun Sen has called on all members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to join in efforts to fight terrorism and transnational crime in the region. Speaking at the opening of the seventh ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and the fourth Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime in Siem Reap on Tuesday, the premier said development depends on security and political stability.

“Development cannot be sustained in the absence of peace and security; the security situation can have a great influence on development,” Hun Sen said. “Terrorism and transnational crime still remain big challenges for our region and individual countries.”

Hun Sen said ASEAN ministers in charge of security and law enforcement efforts can be regarded as partners in fighting transnational crime, which threatens lives, social security and economic development.

Hun Sen said that to build the capacity of its police and law enforcement agencies, Cambodia has established a series of special committees dealing with drugs, human trafficking and arms control.

The two-day meeting, which winds up today, was attended by interior ministers from ASEAN’s 10 member states, as well as Japan, China and South Korea.