Taipei, May 24 (CNA) Taiwan and Indonesia have agreed to strengthen cooperation in fighting human trafficking at a recent meeting in the Southeast Asian country. Under a joint statement signed at the first meeting of top immigration officials from the two countries, Indonesian immigration personnel will escort Indonesian victims of human trafficking sent back by Taiwan on their way home, to ensure their safety. This will be done at the discretion of the victims and escort missions will start upon arrival at airports in Indonesia, according to the statement. Taiwan's representative to Indonesia Andrew Hsia and his Indonesian counterpart Ahmad Syafri signed the statement on the Indonesian island of Bali on May 20. Hsieh Li-kung, head of Taiwan's National Immigration Agency (NIA), and his Indonesian counterpart Bambang Irawan presided over the meeting. The statement is the latest effort by the two countries to combat the illegal trade in humans since a memorandum of understanding signed last September, the NIA said Friday.

The MOU institutionalized mutual visits by top immigration officials from the two sides, according to the NIA. On May 21, Hsieh and Taiwanese officials headed to the Indonesian capital of Jakarta to visit police responsible for fighting human trafficking and establish channels for cooperation. (By Lin Chang-shun and Scully Hsiao)