South Korea said Sunday it will host senior police officers and law enforcement officials from 17 countries this week to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in cracking down on transnational crime.

Among the participants of the four-day meeting in Seoul that ends Thursday are Uzbekistan's interior minister, deputy heads of the public security departments of China and Vietnam, police chiefs from Mongolia, Papua New Guinea and Guatemala, and senior officials from Interpol, the National Police Agency said.

Participating countries either have a number of Korean residents or are pursuing cooperation in crime crackdowns with South Korea, an agency spokesman said.

"We are considering regularizing the international meeting of police chiefs after reviewing the outcome of this upcoming gathering," the spokesman said.

High on the agenda will be how to better protect South Koreans in other countries and cooperation on investigating cross-border financial crimes and criminal repatriation.

Participants will tour an exhibition of state-of-the-art police equipment and attend a seminar on the NPA's crime prevention and clampdown techniques.

They will also appear in uniform at the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the South Korean police agency at the Sejong Center for Performing Arts in downtown Seoul on Wednesday. (Yonhap)