HÀ NỘI — Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn joined representatives of 70 countries and relevant international organisations at a virtual ministerial meeting to launch the global coalition to address synthetic drugs on July 7 (US time) under an initiative of United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Delegates expressed their deep concerns about criminal activities related to the production, transportation and trafficking of drugs, and the negative effects of drug active ingredients on public health and social security. Challenges that the synthetic drug problem poses to sustainable development such as poverty reduction, education and employment security were also put on the table. Delegates pledged to coordinate actions at the national, regional and international levels in drug prevention and control, based on science and transparent information, and a comprehensive and balanced approach. This is the first conference held under the initiative of the US Secretary of State to promote discussion, information sharing and cooperation and action coordination in response to the threat posed by synthetic drugs, which are emerging in many parts of the world.
