6 SE Asian nations inch towards human trafficking pact

United Nations officials cited substantial progress in the closed-door discussions aimed at hammering out the basics of an agreement expected to be signed between Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam when ministers meet in Yangon in October.

But they also warned that the battle against trafficking could actually be slowed by growing regional economic cooperation, the easing of customs procedures and the opening of transnational transport routes.

"The meeting was highly successful, and a number of tentative agreements have been reached which will be discussed further in the next step in the process," said Philip Robertson of UN inter-agency on human trafficking.