Joint Declaration of the 13th ASEAN-China Prosecutors-General Conference　

The 13th ASEAN – China Prosecutors-General Conference was held on 6th December 2023 in Ha Noi, the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam. The Head of Delegations including:

1) H.E. Le Minh Tri, Prosecutor General of the Supreme People's Procuracy of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam,

2) H.E. Ying Yong, Prosecutor General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate of the People's Republic of China,

3) H.E. Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Ahmad Bin Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Di-Raja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Isa, Attorney General and Public Prosecutor of the Attorney General's Chambers of Brunei Darussalam,

4) H.E. Chea Leang, Prosecutor General of the General Prosecution Office to the Supreme Court of the Kingdom of Cambodia,

5) H.E. Burhanuddin, Attorney General of the Republic of Indonesia,

6) H.E. Xaysana Khotphouthone, Prosecutor General of the Supreme People's Prosecutor Office of the Lao People's Democratic Republic,

7) H.E. Dato' Suzana binti Atan, Solicitor General II of the Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia,

8) H.E. Thi Da Oo, Union Minister and Attorney General of the Union, Ministry of Legal Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar,

9) H.E. Mariza Delos Santos-Jaugan, Senior Deputy State Prosecutor of the National Prosecution Service, Department of Justice of the Republic of the Philippines,

10) H.E. Lucien Wong, Attorney-General of the Attorney-General's Chambers of the Republic of Singapore,

11) H.E. Amnat Jedcharoenruk, Attorney General of the Kingdom of Thailand

Recalling the importance of the ASEAN – China Prosecutors-General Conference mechanism, which was inaugurated in 2004 in China, to strengthen cooperation among the Prosecution authorities of ASEAN Member States and China to combat transnational crimes,

Acknowledging the fact that transnational crimes, especially high-tech crimes, have posed huge challenges to the safety and security of ASEAN Member States and China,

Determining to further strengthen the cooperation among the Prosecution authorities of ASEAN Member States and China to promptly and effectively combat transnational crimes, especially high-tech crimes, to ensure the peace, stability, security and sustainable development of ASEAN Member States and China,

Have hereby declared that:

1.  The Prosecution authorities of ASEAN Member States and China maintain their commitments to enhance the cooperation to fight against transnational crimes including high-tech crimes on the basis of the principle of equality, mutual trust and mutual benefit, in accordance with national and international laws.

2.  In order to promptly and effectively fight against transnational crimes, especially high-tech crimes, the Prosecution authorities of ASEAN Member States and China should make full use of various kinds of international cooperation channels, including mutual legal assistance in criminal matters where appropriate, and direct cooperation among the Prosecution authorities, or Prosecutors-to-Prosecutors Cooperation channel. The Prosecutors-General encouraged the Prosecution authorities of ASEAN Member States and China to establish direct communication to support one another in collecting documents and information expeditiously to deal with criminal cases including high-tech criminal cases effectively and thoroughly.

3.  The cooperation in training and exchange of experts should continue to be strengthened among the Prosecution authorities of ASEAN Member States and China to update knowledge about new types of crimes and method to cope with those types of crimes and also to share best practices in the prevention and fight against transnational crimes, especially high-tech crimes.

4.  The Prosecutors-General agreed to collaboratively promote regional connectivity of prosecutorial information and improve the quality and effectiveness of the official website of the ASEAN China Prosecutors-General Conference through regularly sharing legal documents and introduction about the function and operation of the Prosecution authorities of ASEAN Member States and China. The Prosecution authorities of ASEAN Member States may send eligible prosecutors to study in Chinese prosecutorial education and training institutes including the ASEAN – China Prosecutors Training Base located in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Meanwhile, Chinese Prosecution authorities may send eligible prosecutors to study in judicial and prosecutorial education and training institutes of ASEAN Member States.

5. The Prosecutors-General agreed to establish a Communication Group of the ASEAN-China Prosecutors-General Conference mechanism in order to facilitate communication among ASEAN and China. Each ASEAN Member State and China will designate at least two contact persons to participate in the Communication Group.

Signed in Ha Noi, the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam on 6th December 2023 in English.