Phnom Penh: General Chuon Sovann, the Deputy Chairman of the National Authority for Combating Drugs and Chairman of the 7th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, said that the outcome of the meeting on drugs will initiate ASEAN countries to align with the changing state of the drug problem in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic was positive.

The statement made by General Chuon Sovann was via video this morning, Thursday. While the meeting was hosted by Cambodia, the meeting was attended by leaders of ASEAN member states.

General Chuon Sovann said: "I hope that after the meeting today we will continue to work together to consider and initiate new ideas to ensure that all mechanisms are further strengthened and expanded in order to go with the flow with the evolving situation of the drug problems in the context of the Covid-19 Pandemic."

At the same time, General Chuon Sovann continued that based on the results we have achieved and the experience from the past, both strengths and weaknesses, the recommendations made in the Memorandum of Understanding, led by Deputy Prime Minister Ke Kim Yan, Chairman of the National Authority for Combating Drugs, at the 7th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Drugs were positive.

General Chuon Sovann praised the good cooperation between ASEAN member countries in preventing cross-border drug crimes during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In addition, the general said, although some cooperation was hampered by the consequences of Covid-19, drug control bodies of ASEAN member states have made every effort through various mechanisms and plans.

General Chuon Sovann added: "In this meeting, in addition to reviewing what we have done together, both strengths and weaknesses, as well as challenges which related to the performance of our work in the past, we also jointly discussed some of the recommendations arising from the mid-term review of the implementation of the ASEAN work plan about ASEAN Community Security Against Illegal Drugs 2016-2025. As a compass and a basis for further improving efficiency, especially in moving towards achieving our common goal, at the same time, we will hear reports on the situation and evolution of drug problems in the region and globally, as well as reports on the progress of implementation of activities in the ASEAN Cooperation plan 2020-2022”.

General Chuon Sovann also called on all ASEAN member states to work together more effectively on drug cases, as the drug problem remains a sensitive issue in ASEAN as well as the rest of the world.