A conference of ASEAN Senior Officialson Drug Matters (ASOD) has adopted an action plan, initiated by Vietnamwith an aim of achieving a drug free ASEAN by 2015.

An action-oriented “ASEAN Work Plan on Combating Illicit DrugProduction, Trafficking and Use (2009-2015)” was agreed to by more than100 ASEAN senior officials and dialogue partners during their 30 thmeeting held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from Sept. 29-Oct. 2.

The work plan consists of three parts, with details on activities tofight illicit drug production, trafficking and use in the 2009-2015period. It is compiled and presented by Vietnam .

Addressing the meeting, Vietnam chief delegate Hoang Anh Tuyen, who isdeputy head of drug control office, stressed that the plan is a strongcommitment of ASEAN members in the fight against drugs and creates abasis for cooperation among ASEAN members and cooperation with theirdialogue partners.

The ASOD is an annual meeting and a forum for member countries of theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to discuss drug crimeprevention as well as implement recommendations and projects passed atthe previous meeting.

This year’s ASOD meeting saw representatives from drug control agenciesof nine ASEAN member countries, except for Myanmar, and the dialoguepartners of India, Pakistan, Japan and the Republic of Korea .

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam./.