Vietnam plays active role at St. Petersburg International Legal Forum

Vietnam’s inter-agency delegation, comprising representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the Vietnam Lawyers Association and the Ministry of Public Security, and led by Minister of Justice Hoang Thanh Tung, contributed views at the forum.

The 14th Saint Petersburg International Legal Forum held its plenary session on June 24, drawing around 5,000 participants, including justice ministers, chief justices, judges, heads of international organizations and associations, as well as representatives of the legal community, businesses and media.

In his message to the plenary session, Russian President Vladimir Putin recalled this year’s forum theme, “Time to Act by Law,” and stressed that a key task at present is to strengthen the rule of law in social governance and in regulating relations across all fields, from politics and economics to humanitarian and international affairs.

He expressed confidence that ideas and proposals put forward at the forum will contribute to improving legislation and law enforcement, promoting legal education, dialogue and cooperation within the international legal community.

In his opening remarks at the plenary session, Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev addressed what he described as a crisis in international law, in which the principle of sovereign equality is being replaced by the selective application of rules.

He stressed that the principle of equality among legal subjects, as enshrined in the United Nations Charter, must remain the foundation of the international order, adding that international conflicts should be resolved on the basis of equality and respect for international law.

Following remarks by Indian Supreme Court Justice Surya Kant on equality before the law, Hoang Thanh Tung, speaking on behalf of the Vietnamese delegation, said Vietnam’s development and international integration have gone hand in hand with improving its legal system, internalizing international commitments, and renewing legal thinking toward development, openness and integration.

Vietnam consistently regards international law as an important tool for building fair and mutually beneficial cooperative relations among nations, he went on.

Thanh Tung stressed that the principles of sovereign equality, the right of peoples to self-determination, and non-interference in internal affairs are fundamental pillars of international law.

He noted that Vietnam not only fully implements its international commitments but is also taking an increasingly proactive role in shaping and developing international law.

Vietnam’s selection as the venue for the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, also known as the Hanoi Convention, serves as a testament to the country’s growing role and active contributions to global legal issues.

Hoang Thanh Tung also said international cooperation in legal and judicial affairs carries particular importance in the current integration process.

Vietnam is ready to work with partners to boost cooperation in lawmaking, legal training, dispute resolution, judicial assistance, combating transnational crime, and implementing international treaties.

On the sidelines of the forum, Nguyen Khanh Ngoc, President of the Vietnam Lawyers Association, held a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Stepashin.

The two sides exchanged views and agreed on several proposals for future cooperation, with an emphasis on training and capacity-building for members of both organizations, as well as greater experience-sharing and the application of science and technology in professional activities.

Vietnam, Russia strengthen legal cooperation at St. Petersburg legal forum

VOV.VN - Vietnamese Minister of Justice Hoang Thanh Tung held a working session with his Russian counterpart Konstantin Chuychenko on June 24 on the sidelines of the 14th Saint Petersburg International Legal Forum to discuss measures for implementing the cooperation agreement between the two ministries.