Vietnam and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) haveinked a document outlining a national programme on drug and crimeprevention for the 2012-2017 period.

It was signedby Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Cao Viet Sinh and UNODCVietnam Country Manager Zhuldyz Akisheva.

Theprogramme, with a budget of nearly 14.5 million USD to be funded bynon-refundable aid, includes five sub-programmes, dealing withtrans-national crimes, corruption and money laundry, terrorismprevention, criminal justice and reducing HIV/AIDS and drug demand.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Deputy Minister Cao Viet Sinh saidthe programme is a joint effort by the Vietnamese Government and UNODCin implementing their joint plan for the 2012-2016 period.

He expressed belief that with the concerted efforts of both sides, aswell as support of donors, the programme will make positivecontributions to the implementation of national strategies and goals onpreventing and combating drugs and crimes in Vietnam .

Each sub-programme under the project will have their specific targetsdefined basing on research and evaluation of risks, he said.

It will assist the ratification of international conventions andprotocols supervised by UNODC, while supporting the process of adoptingrelevant laws in Vietnam ’s legal system.

Besides, the programme will help Vietnam strengthen its coordination inthe field with its neighbouring countries and other Southeast Asianones, he added.-VNA