ASEAN Legal Forum 2026 in Hanoi to spearhead AI-driven judicial reform

Following the Prime Minister’s approval to host the ASEAN Legal Forum 2026 under the theme "Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Lawmaking and Law Enforcement in the Digital Era," the Ministry of Justice has issued an organization plan for the forum.

According to the plan, the forum will gather around 100 domestic and international delegates, including leaders of the Government, the Ministry of Justice, and representatives from Party agencies, the National Assembly, and various ministries and departments.

International delegates will include leadership representatives from the Department of Justice of the Philippines (the rotating ASEAN Chair), Heads of ASLOM from the 10 ASEAN member states, the ASEAN Secretariat, international organizations such as the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), the European Union (EU), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), along with several ASEAN partners (Japan, the Republic of Korea, China, etc.), and Ambassadors of ASEAN countries to Vietnam.

Over the past nearly two decades, the Ministry of Justice has maintained the ASEAN Legal Forum as an in-depth exchange mechanism on law and justice in the region. Vietnam’s hosting of the ASEAN Legal Forum 2026 is necessary and appropriate, inheriting the results of previous forums while opening a new approach in legal cooperation linked with technology application to improve institutional quality and law enforcement efficiency.

At the same time, this activity is in line with the Party’s guidelines on improving the legal system, as outlined in Resolution No. 66 dated April 30, 2025, Conclusion No. 09 dated March 10, 2026, and Conclusion No. 18 dated April 2, 2026, of the Politburo. Through this, Vietnam continues to affirm its proactive and positive role in legal and judicial cooperation within ASEAN.

According to the Ministry of Justice, the forum is designed to share experience and best practices among ASEAN member states regarding AI application in lawmaking and law enforcement to enhance quality and efficiency in the digital era. Concurrently, it seeks to improve the digital capabilities of legal and judicial agencies and their staff in professional operations.

It also aims to strengthen international cooperation and regional connectivity regarding digital transformation and AI application in lawmaking and law enforcement, thereby contributing to supporting ASEAN in improving enforcement efficiency and perfecting a harmonized, modern legal framework capable of adapting to legal challenges in the digital era.

The agenda features an opening session with welcome remarks by Vietnamese Government leaders, a special address by the leadership of the Department of Justice of the Philippines, and an opening speech by the Minister of Justice of Vietnam.

The main proceedings consist of two plenary sessions covering seven key sub-topics, alongside a thematic discussion and a hybrid (in-person and online) panel titled "Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Smart Governance: Opportunities and Challenges for ASEAN." Overall, discussions will focus on Vietnam’s current state and outlook in applying AI to lawmaking; national legal frameworks and policy approaches across ASEAN; practical applications of AI in operating national legal portals and assisting citizens and businesses; best practices and responsible AI models (including European experience); and strategic orientations to deepen ASEAN legal and judicial cooperation in digital transformation.

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