S.E. Asian drug-producing nations set for Sept. summit

Asian Economic News, July 23, 2001

BANGKOK, July 20 Kyodo

Leaders from China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, all major narcotic producing areas also being damaged by rampant drug use, will gather in the southern Chinese city Kunming for a summit on combating narcotics in September, Thai and Chinese officials said Friday.

Before the summit, ministers from the four countries will meet Aug. 27-28 in Beijing after a meeting of senior drug officers in Yangon early next month, according to Kitti Limchaikit, secretary general at the Thai Narcotics Control Board.

The dates and details of the summit will be decided by the Beijing ministerial meeting, he told reporters.

The time frame for talks was set during a meeting between Thammarak Issarangkura Na Ayudhaya, minister at the Prime Minister's Office, and Chinese Public Security Minister Jia Chunwang.

Jia arrived in Thailand late Thursday for a seven-day visit to enhance cooperation efforts to fight regional drug trade.

Thailand and China initiated the summit idea to curb drug trafficking among countries in the notorious Golden Triangle along the borders of Laos, Myanmar and Thailand when Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji visited Thailand in May.

The leaders will also discuss related issues such as trans-border crime syndicates to formulate a comprehensive plan to curb narcotics, Thammarak said.

An Guojun, Chinese drug liaison officer to Thailand, said China is committed to helping Thailand curb regional drug trafficking.

An arrived in Bangkok early this week under a memorandum of understanding signed by the two countries in 1999. Thailand will soon dispatch personnel to Beijing for the same purpose.

The Golden Triangle harbors opium growers and drug producers, who refine precursor chemicals from China into various narcotics for the world market.

Thai criminals play the role of financiers to the drug trade, both through providing seed directly money to growers and producers and by providing a market for drugs, notably methamphetamines.

Bangkok has sought help from several countries to stop drug smuggling, including a memorandum of understanding against drug traffickers and producers signed with Myanmar last month.