Officials from four Mekong River countries met in Beijing Monday to establish joint security procedures in an area where attackers killed 13 Chinese crewmen on two river boats early this month.

Chinese Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu hosted the meeting, which was also attended by senior officials from Burma, Laos and Thailand. Meng said the countries will establish procedures to share intelligence and conduct joint patrols on the river.

The Chinese crewmen were killed October 6 in the Golden Triangle, a border area notorious for activity by drug smuggling gangs. Authorities found more than 900,000 methamphetamine pills on one of the hijacked boats.

Thai and Chinese authorities announced Friday that nine Thai soldiers surrendered after being identified as suspects in the killings.

Chinese officials are pressing for prompt prosecution of the soldiers and stiff punishment if they are found guilty.