This is the first time Viet Nam has hosted the meeting since the country joined the Bali Process in 2002, which aims to address issues relating to people smuggling, trafficking in persons and related transnational crime. Viet Nam approved the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) in December last year, paving the way for the Southeast Asian country to strengthen international cooperation in effective management of migration. The meeting is also expected to help improve awareness of relevant agencies throughout the process of a plan for the implementation of the GCM, which is being drafted by the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry. The Bali Process was jointly initiated by the Governments of Australia and Indonesia in February 2002.