Vietnam always supports international endeavors to create more motivation and mobilize more resources for the global fight against synthetic drugs, Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son has said.

Minister Son was speaking at a ministerial online conference hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday to share information and promote coordination in coping with the complex emerging threats posed by synthetic drugs, including MDMA, fentanyl, methamphetamine and ketamine, among others.

At the event, which attracted representatives from 70 countries and international organizations, Son shared the common concerns of the international community about the dangers of synthetic drugs and emphasized the need of effective global cooperation in dealing with drug demand and supply issues.

Such cooperation should be made in the spirit of respecting sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs of each country, the minister said.

He urged the international community to support the effective implementation of international conventions on fighting drugs and to strengthen the role of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs.

Son also called for international support for developing countries in information sharing, capacity building, resources and technological development necessary for their fighting drugs in general and synthetics in particular.

In order to solve the drug problem in a sustainable way, it is necessary to accelerate hunger elimination and poverty reduction, improve education and generate more job opportunities, especially for young people, the minister stressed

The diplomat also shared the efforts of Vietnam and ASEAN to strive for drug-free environments, affirming his advocacy for fighting drugs at the national, regional and international levels.

Vietnam always gives high priority to drug crime prevention and control with appropriate national measures, coupled with international and regional cooperation, he stated. 

Addressing the conference, Secretary Blinken affirmed that drugs are threatening the lives and future of millions of Americans.

Combating drugs is a high priority for President Joe Biden’s administration with many powerful measures, including the newly enacted National Drug Control Strategy. 

Drug trafficking and abuse are always a serious challenge to global security and health that no country can solve on its own.

He therefore proposed the launch of a Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats, and stressed “If we don’t act together with fierce urgency, it will be a catastrophe.”

This coalition seeks to unite countries worldwide in a concerted effort to prevent the illicit manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs, identify emerging drug trends, and respond effectively to their public health impacts, Blinken said in a statement. 

Following the coalition’s establishment, the U.S. will conduct consultations with participating countries to prioritize specific, concrete actions to deal with synthetic drug threats, he added. 

The conference took place amid the increasingly complicated situation of synthetic drug trafficking and abuse in the world.

Currently, Asia in general and Southeast Asia in particular continue to be the world's leading new markets for synthetic drugs and psychotropic substances.

The two Asian regions reportedly among the world’s major drug production centers are the Golden Crescent (comprising Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan) and the Golden Triangle (consisting of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand).

In Vietnam, the rate of synthetic drug use accounts for about 70-80 percent of drug addicts.

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