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| Panellists and keynote speakers at the plenary session of the 14th St. Petersburg International Legal Forum__Photo: VNA |
International cooperation in legal and judicial affairs is of special importance amid deepening global integration, said Minister of Justice Hoang Thanh Tung, stressing that Vietnam stands ready to work with partners to strengthen collaboration in lawmaking, legal training, dispute resolution, mutual legal assistance, combating transnational crime and implementing international treaties.
Tung made the remarks during the plenary session of the 14th St. Petersburg International Legal Forum on June 24, which brought together around 5,000 participants, including justice ministers, chief justices, judges, heads of international organisations and associations, legal professionals, business representatives and members of the media.
For the first time in the forum’s 15-year history, Vietnam attended the event as the sole guest country, reflecting the nation's growing standing in the international legal arena.
In a message to the plenary session, Russian President Vladimir Putin recalled this year’s forum theme, “Time to be in the law”, and underscored the importance of strengthening the rule of law in organising public life and regulating relations across all spheres, from politics, economy and society to humanitarian activities and international affairs. The Russian President expressed confidence that ideas and proposals emerging from the forum will contribute to the improvement of law-making and law enforcement, the development of legal science and education, and will help deepen constructive dialogue and partnership within the legal community.
Opening the plenary session, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia Dmitry Medvedev highlighted what he described as a crisis in international law, in which the principle of sovereign equality has increasingly been replaced by the selective application of legal rules. He stressed that the principle of equality among legal subjects, as enshrined in the United Nations Charter, must remain a cornerstone of the international order and that international conflicts should be resolved on the basis of equality and respect for international law.
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| Minister of Justice Hoang Thanh Tung (L) at the plenary session of the 14th St. Petersburg International Legal Forum__Photo: VNA |
Tung, speaking on behalf of the Vietnamese delegation, noted that Vietnam’s development and international integration have gone hand in hand with the improvement of its legal system, the incorporation of international commitments into domestic legislation, and legal reforms aimed at fostering development, openness and global integration. He emphasised that Vietnam regards international law as an essential instrument for building fair, mutually beneficial relations among nations.
The minister stressed that the principles of sovereign equality, the right of peoples to self-determination and non-interference in internal affairs remain fundamental pillars of international law. Vietnam, he said, not only faithfully fulfils its international commitments but is also increasingly proactive in contributing to the development of international legal frameworks.
He pointed to Vietnam’s selection as the venue for the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime (Hanoi Convention) as evidence of the country's growing role and contributions to addressing global legal challenges.
On the same day, Chairman of the Vietnam Lawyers Association Nguyen Khanh Ngoc met with Sergey Stepashin, Chairman of the Association of Lawyers of Russia. The two sides exchanged views and agreed on several areas for future cooperation, with a focus on training and capacity building for members of both organisations, as well as enhancing experience-sharing and the application of science and technology in professional activities.- (VNA/VLLF)
