President Xi Jinping opens INTERPOL General Assembly

BEIJING, China ‒ The INTERPOL General Assembly, the world’s premier law enforcement forum, has been  officially opened by Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

The four-day conference, which concluded on 29th September, brought together government ministers from 156 countries.

The importance of frontline officers having real-time access to global policing data through a single and neutral platform was on the agenda at the General Assembly.

Chinese President Xi Jinping officially opened the INTERPOL General Assembly in Beijing.

INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said with national policing resources stretched as never before, maximising the use of regional and international networks was essential.

The opening ceremony of the 86th Session of the INTERPOL General Assembly

Chinese President Xi Jinping with INTERPOL Executive Committee members and other dignitaries.

The 86th Session of the INTERPOL General Assembly opened in Beijing on 26 September.

Addressing delegates, INTERPOL President Meng Hongwei said: “Cooperation is embedded in the genes of the Organization, just as neutrality is its lifeline.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) with INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock.

Guo Shengkun, Chinese State Councillor and Minister of Public Security, said police cooperation was vital for global security.

Chinese President Xi Jinping addressing INTERPOL delegates.

Nearly 1,000 participants from 156 countries are attending the four-day General Assembly. They include 62 police chiefs and more than 30 Ministers of Security, Interior and Justice

Among the key issues to be addressed by delegates is the importance of frontline officers having real-time access to global policing data.

The Guard of Honour brings the flags onto the stage at the opening ceremony of the General Assembly.

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With nearly 1,000 participants from 156 countries, making it one of the largest General Assemblies in the Organization’s history, the four-day (26 – 29 September) conference will see police thought leaders forge operational alliances to tackle the crime threats of today and tomorrow.

Among the key issues to be addressed by delegates, including 62 police chiefs and more than 30 Ministers of Security, Interior and Justice, is the importance of frontline officers having real-time access to global policing data through a single and neutral platform.

This was highlighted earlier this month with the arrest of two Foreign Terrorist Fighters who were the subject of Red Notices, or international  wanted persons alerts, following checks against INTERPOL’s databases by West African border officials.

In his address to delegates President Xi said cooperation was essential to the safety and security of citizens everywhere.

“No country can guarantee its absolute security all by itself. China stands ready to closely cooperate and collaborate with INTERPOL members and international organizations to take an active part in global security and make a new and greater contribution to peace and the development of mankind,” said President Xi.

“China has actively participated in global law-enforcement cooperation and global security governance, resolutely supported international fight against terrorism, joined global cooperation in combating cyber crimes, worked with other countries in fugitive repatriation, fighting against telecom  fraud and other crimes,” added President Xi.

Outlining some of the challenges facing police, INTERPOL President Meng Hongwei said: “Cooperation is embedded in the genes of the Organization, just as neutrality is its lifeline. We must hold dear the cooperative and neutral spirit in the same way as we cherish our lives.

“Security is a basic need for human survival, the common denominator of all countries. The crimes we see are no longer what a country can solve alone. It is imperative that police help each other, because it is helping ourselves,” concluded President Meng.

INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said with national policing resources stretched as never before, maximizing the use of existing trusted networks both regionally and internationally was essential.

“Every additional record made available across borders builds a new opportunity, but every piece of information left unexploited creates a new risk,” said Secretary General  Stock.

“As criminals and terrorists continue to exploit every loophole available to them, the law enforcement community must remain flexible and use every resource available to address these evolving threats,” concluded Mr Stock.

Secretary General Stock  pointed to results achieved following checks against INTERPOL’s databases in the past two weeks alone, including:

• 185 child sexual abuse victims identified
• 40 international identifications made through fingerprint checks linked to offences  including theft, fraud and murder
• A blank Syrian passport, stolen by terrorist groups from Idlib province detected at a European airport
• More than 300 arrests in an operation targeting drug trafficking in the Asia-Pacific region 

In addition to being updated on the Organization’s three global threat programmes on counter-terrorism, organized and emerging crime and cybercrime, delegates at the General Assembly will also consider new criteria and process for membership of INTERPOL.

The findings of a membership study carried out by the former United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and Legal Counsel, Hans Corell, will be presented to delegates for a vote.

There are currently two applications for INTERPOL membership, from the State of Palestine and the Solomon Islands.