International co-operation among countries, rather than solitary efforts, is essential in the fight against illegal drug production, transportation and consumption, said Jia Chunwang, minister of public security, yesterday.

Jia made the remarks before the opening of the China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand Ministers' Meeting on Drug Control Co-operation, scheduled to be held today in Beijing.

"Eighty per cent of China's drugs come from the 'Golden Triangle' (an area between Myanmar, Thailand and Laos), which is one of the world's major drug sources," said Jia, who is also the commissioner of the China Narcotic Control Commission. "The anti-drug co-operation with the countries surrounding the region, therefore, bears special significance to China."

According to Jia, the four countries will speed up anti-drug information exchanges, the planting of alternative crops, the combat of drug-related crimes and personnel training.

The other three ministers attending the meeting are: Soubanh Srithirath, minister to the President's Office of Laos; Tin Hlaing, minister of home affairs and chairman of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control of Myanmar, and Thammarak Isarangura, the minister to the prime minister's office of Thailand.

They echoed Jia's opinion.

Srithirath said: "Without international co-operation, I think we cannot overcome the drug problem." He appreciated China's help on training Lao police and customs officers.

According to the minister, Laos and Myanmar, with China's help, have greatly reduced the planting of opium poppies in their boundary areas, therefore decreasing the threat of drugs from the "Golden Triangle" to China and the rest of the world.

Hlaing, the Myanmar minister, said his country will further strengthen the co-operation with China and other countries in the region, to fight drug trafficking and drug-related crimes.

Thailand attached great importance to the meeting because it also suffers drug-related problems, said Isarangura, Thailand's representative.

"Together with the co-operation with China and other countries, we believe we can build the 'Golden Triangle' into a drug-free region," he said.

(China Daily 08/28/2001)