A senior police officer has called for further co-operation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the fight against cross-border crimes.

Li Zhuqun, deputy director of the International Co-operation Department with the Ministry of Public Security, made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Regional Forum Workshop on Strengthening Management of Cross-Border Movement of Criminals in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, on Wednesday.

With economic ties between China and ASEAN becoming ever closer, the region is facing increasingly serious threats from the cross-border movement of criminals and related cross-border crimes.

"A country or region will find it hard to achieve the success in the fight against cross-border crimes if it refuses to co-operate with other nations and regions," Li said.

And Wu Jianmin, director of the ASEAN Affairs Division in Li's department, said priorities will be given to the expansion of co-operation in the fight against telephone fraud, terrorism, organized cross-border drug trafficking and in tracking down escaped criminal suspects and booties between China and ASEAN.

The event is co-haired by China and Thailand. Phaspom Sangasubana, head of the Thai delegation, said ASEAN members and China should further expand their exchanges and analysis of information and intelligence in fighting cross-border crimes.

"Both bilateral and regional co-operation should further be expanded to help crack down on cross-border crimes," she added.

Lu Feng deputy director-general of the Guangdong provincial department of public security, said Guangdong has achieved success in co-operating with its counterparts in the fight against cross-border crimes in the recent years.

Police officers from Guangdong province and Thailand detained 20 men and 10 women after they swooped on a secret telephone fraud den in the outskirt of Bangkok, capital of Thailand, on December 24.

Eight computers, 35 mobile phones, many bank cards and other equipment were seized after police busted the major cross-border gang which used to be headed by Taiwan residents.

Detainees included 14 mainlanders, 13 Taiwan residents and three foreigners.

The crackdown has dealt a heavy blow to cross-border telephone fraud in the region.

More than 80 representatives from around the world attended the forum which ends on Thursday.