MACAO — A recent meeting between Macao and Chinese mainland’s police force had discussed about law enforcement cooperation on fighting economic crime, drug and telecommunication fraud, the special administrative region’s security authorities said on April 3.

Macao’s office of Secretary for Security told the press that the 20th police work meeting between Macao and Chinese mainland had been held in Xiamen on March 31. Macao’s Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak and China’s Vice Minister of Public Security Chen Zhimin led the two sides to review the works in 2016 and exchange ideas for cooperation in 2017.

According to the office, the cooperation between the two sides in 2016 had fruitful results, including cross-border crime prevention, marine safety coordination and border control. The joint operations in fighting drug smuggling, economic crimes and terrorism had effectively curb criminal activities, with many major cases investigated and solved.

Last year, the two sides also studied the joint customs clearance procedure in Zhuhai-Macao pass of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, with all related regulations and facilities under development.

In terms of the plan for 2017, both sides will strengthen coordination in dealing with security risks and challenges, including telecommunication fraud, illegal stay and immigration; continue the preparation work for joint customs clearance; promote the cooperation in technical level such as law enforcement issue in international metropolis and high-tech police expertise training.

The meeting also decided to push forward the realization of mutual legal assistance in criminal matters between Macao and Chinese mainland.