VIENTIANE - China will further promote cooperation with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) police agencies on regional law enforcement, a senior Chinese official said here on Tuesday.

China's vice-minister of Public Security Huang Ming told Xinhua that in recent years, cooperation on regional enforcement had constantly strengthened between China and ASEAN countries, and both sides had developed good police relations.

Huang, also head of Chinese delegation, was speaking at the 31th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Chiefs of Police (ASEANAPOL) Conference which opened in Laos' capital of Vientiane on Tuesday.  

He said the main purpose of the Chinese delegation was to continue to promote understanding and mutual trust between China and the ASEAN Police agencies, in order to further enhance regional law enforcement cooperation.

Over 200 high-ranking police officers from the ten ASEAN member countries and the dialogue partner countries including  China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand as well as the representatives of the ASEAN Secretariat, ASEANAPOL Secretariat and Interpol attended the conference.

The three-day meeting from May 31 to June 2 will discuss issues like terrorism, drugs and human trafficking, maritime fraud, commercial crime, banking offences and credit card fraud, cyber-crime, document fraud and transnational fraud.

Participants will also update each other on the Electronic-ASEANAPOL Database System and discuss how ASEANPOL can increase mutual assistance on criminal matters with Interpol.

On the same day Huang met Thongban Sengaphone, the Lao Minister of Public Security, with both parties exchanging views on enhancing cooperation in law enforcement.

The Chinese delegation led by Huang was invited to Laos by the Lao Ministry of Public Security.

ASEANAPOL began in 1981 with the aim of strengthening ASEAN member police organizations, exchange of information between agencies and law enforcement cooperation.